Children's Poetry Summer School
We are looking forward to hosting this Summer School with Wenlock Poetry Festival. Dates are August 15th - 19th, each morning from 10 o'clock until 12.30pm. I will be co-presenting with poets Roz Goddard, Angela Topping, Deb Alma and (tbc) Mandy Ross - to whom I am enormously grateful for the generous and lively way they have responded to this new idea! We will work with each poet individually, but the children will also work on a sustained piece of writing throughout the week, so they can enjoy the sense of going back to a piece and editing, drafting, polishing and then performing! Cost is £20 and there are only six places left at the time of writing.
To book, phone 01952 727877 to book, or call in at the bookshop, 12 High Street, Much Wenlock.
Katherine Swift and Mirabel Ostler
Two gardeners, garden-writers and great friends will bring to Much Wenlock the event they wowed Hay with! This event will take place at Wenlock Pottery on Friday 16th September, 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 to include cheese and wine. Katherine will be promoting her latest book in the Morville series - The Morville Year. Mirabel will be talking about her long-awaited follow-up to A Gentle Plea for Chaos, The Rain Tree, also published by Bloomsbury.
To book, phone 01952 727877 to book, or call in at the bookshop, 12 High Street, Much Wenlock.
Celebrating the life and work of Mary Webb - a talk by Gladys Mary Coles.
This year sees the 130th anniversary of the birth of Shropshire's Mary Webb. Acclaimed Mary Webb expert, writer, poet and chair of the Mary Webb Society, Gladys Mary Coles, will present an evening talk on the importance of Much Wenlock in the work of Mary Webb. Tickets £3. Bar available. This event will take place at Wenlock Pottery.
To book, phone 01952 727877 to book, or call in at the bookshop, 12 High Street, Much Wenlock.
The Poozies!
Charity concert at The Edge Arts Centre (this is a change of venue) on Thursday October 6th. Tickets are £10 each, there are also limited tickets available for a pre-concert supper at Wenlock Pottery. All proceeds to go to Friends of Conakry Refugee School (www.fcrs.org.uk). I still can't quite believe that the amazing Poozies are going to be here in Much Wenlock! How lucky are we! Please buy your tickets soon to avoid disappointment and to help us put on a truly fabulous evening!
To book, phone 01952 727877 to book, or call in at the bookshop, 12 High Street, Much Wenlock.
The Godless Boys by Naomi Wood - author supper
On October 14th at 7.30pm, there will be a supper and talk at Wenlock Pottery with guest speaker, Naomi Woods.
If you were forced to live with faith, or without, which would you choose? England, 1986. The Church controls the country, and all members of the Secular Movement have been expelled to the Island. On the Island, religion is outlawed. A gang of boys patrols the community, searching for signs of faith, and punishing any believers.
When an English girl arrives – intent on finding her mother who disappeared, mysteriously, ten years ago – she is swept up in the dangerous games of the gang. But while one boy falls in love with her, the other wants revenge for the wrongs of the past, and, as the violence escalates, the English girl becomes their pawn.
The Godless Boys is a book about faith, and life without faith; about love, and its absence. But above all, it's about power, and how dangerous it can be to stand out from the crowd. Both violent and tender, it’s a remarkable debut, and clearly marks Naomi Wood as a name to note.
Do join us! To book, phone 01952 727877 to book, or call in at the bookshop, 12 High Street, Much Wenlock.
Poet-Tea
Join Britain's Tea Poet, Elizabeth Darcy Jones for an Afternoon Tea with a difference, at Wenlock Pottery.
The Tea Poet, will host Afternoon Tea on Friday 25th November, and will be reading poems from her new book 'Distinguished Leaves: Poems for Tea Lovers' at diner's tables throughout the afternoon.
Elizabeth's poetry celebrates different teas and tea people, revealing their characters and unique personalities in an accessible and entertaining way.
"Lick your lips for Jasmine Pearls
curves and softness, hair that curls
and tempts your mouth to form an 'O'
through which her jasmine scent will flow."
We will enjoy a variety of unusual and delicious teas, along with traditional tea-time fare, such as hot buttered crumpets (it will be winter!), chocolate cake and yummy scones! This will be a treat for all the senses!
Tickets, £10 to include a copy of the book and afternoon tea.
To book, phone 01952 727877 to book, or call in at the bookshop, 12 High Street, Much Wenlock.
Debbie Cassell
I've been a fan of Debbie Cassell's gorgeous voice ever since her brother Richard introduced me to Angels in Labour many years ago. Last year Debbie came to Wenlock as part of the Joni Mitchell Project with Sally Barker of the Poozies and Glenn Hughes. Debbie promptly became a fan of Wenlock and immediately offered to come back with her own show. I am delighted to be able to offer this event at Wenlock Pottery on Friday December 2nd - the night before the traditional Wenlock Christmas Fayre - so why not come for the weekend!! More details to follow - but save the date!
Phew - that's all for now - wishing you a sunny (?) and relaxed (?) summer season, from the wildly wonderful Outer Hebrides!
Anna x
