SHREWSBURY POETRY

I have become well-known for my ability to compere events successfully. I am often invited to present other poets to audiences, and enjoy this aspect of community.

I founded the monthly Shrewsbury Poetry event in 2012, and despite some Covid ups and downs, is still going strong. I am now delighted to share the responsibilities for booking poets and compering the evenings with Jean Atkin.

The second Tuesday of the month events (now at The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm-9.00pm) give open mic opportunities for readings to poets living locally, as well as attracting guest poets and writers with established reputations.

Guest poets have included Philip Gross, James Sheard, Andrew McMillan, Jonathan Edwards, Helen Ivory, Martin Figura, Fred D'Aguiar, Adam Horovitz, Ross Donlon, Rosie Shepperd, Matthew Stewart, Keith Chandler, Katrina Naomi, Lucy English, Naomi Paul, Paul Deaton, Emma Purshouse, Deborah Alma, Sophie McKeand, Chris Hardy, Renee Parker, Gareth Owen, Anna Selby, Poets Prattlers and Pandemonialists, Claire Williamson, Hugh McMillan, Steve Pottinger, Ken Evans, John Hegley, Paul Mortimer, Rachel Spence, Helen Kay, Maria Isakova-Bennett

I have enjoyed other compering opportunities, and was curator of the first Wenlock Poetry Busk, 2015, which featured poets living locally, as well as featuring festival headlining poets including Jonathan Edwards, Andrew McMillan, Hollie McNish, Liz Berry, Pauline Prior-Pitt, Ross Donlon, LiTTLe MACHiNe, Robert Peake, Roz Goddard, Emma Purshouse, Nadia Kingsley and Jean Atkin. I curated the Busk again in 2016 and in 2018.