Bridport has a lively arts scene out of all proportion to the size of the town.  Poets taking part will be Gill Capper,  Andrew Dickson  and Ellie Sturrock.  A ‘poetry happening’ is a good way to describe their varied styles and a splendid showcase for modern poetry.  

This will be an ‘audio visual’ meeting.  As the sea and sailing lends itself to poetry and strong dramatic images this should be a lively meeting with plenty to interest everyone.

Bring a poem to read on this subject and send a picture to match that can be displayed at the meeting to accompany the poem.   We need the photos (in jpeg format) at least 2 weeks before the meeting.  Email via the contact page for details if you are unsure what is required.

‘Tyger Tyger, burning bright’   wrote William Blake – and many other poets have also been inspired by animals.  This is an open evening but with a theme. If you can find, or write, any poetry connected with animals, then this is the time to bring out your wild side………

So bring some poems or just come and listen.

This is a three part meeting and you can come to all or whichever part of the evening suits.

At 7.00pm Heather Murphy will be taking us on a short (half an hour) and informative amble around some parts of the village of East Coker starting at ‘The Paddock’.  ‘The Paddock’ is the triangle of grass and specimen trees on the left of the road up towards the Church before the Alms houses.

The walk will finish in ‘The Paddock’ by the Church where, having worked up an appetite, we can eat any sandwiches and refreshments we have brought.

At about 8.00pm we will head for the Helyar Arms and continue the evening with an ‘open evening’ of poetry on any subject you wish, although poems on a ‘summers evening’ would be very apt.  Poems with the words ‘hail’ and ‘floods’ in their title are specifically banned………….

Obviously if rain and storms threaten to turn The Paddock into a lake we will head for the Helyar Arms at 7.00pm so keep an eye on the forecast.

Douglas Walker from the Self Publishing Partnership in Bath talked about publishing a poetry collection. 

Seeing your work in print is quite a thrill……

This was a ‘sit down’ meal in the Apple Loft restaurant at the Helyar Arms with poetry by Catherine Simmonds who gave an excellent selection of atmospheric poems based on the theme of birds.  The whole evening was a delight and the Helyar Arms rose to the occasion with speedy service and a tasty meal.   By donations for her poetry booklets, Catherine raised £70 for the charity Mary’s Meals that provides school dinners to children in need in many countries.

This was a joint meeting of our two groups.  A very varied and lively poetry selection was enjoyed by all.

The Sherborne Poets were lead by Geraldine Rennison.

An audio and visual event celebrating Greece and the Greeks.  But was not all olive groves and tavernas……….. 

The plight of refugees and the difficulties of the Greek economy has also produced some heartfelt and captivating poetry.

The vening was lead by Caroline Mornement. 

Just bring a couple of poems to read. They can be either your own or by any poet whose poems will suit the occasion.  Or just come and listen……………

Always a good evening, these informal open meetings remain popular.

 Annie Fisher won our 2012 poetry competition with three excellent poems on the theme of ‘Postcards’.  She has gone on writing poetry and has now put together a collection that is being published in November. We are delighted to welcome her back to East Coker for a reading of her work