by Cardinal Cox
Pub Scrawl
Poets United’s regular meetings are on the first Tuesday of the month (so 6 November and 4 December, which starts with the AGM) at the PCVS building on Lincoln Road (roughly opposite Geneva Bar) and they are starting to look forward to their annual gig at the Whittlesey Straw Bear Festival in January. Ring Viv on 01733 340560 for details. Pint of Poetry, Dash of Drama will be having their regular nights at Charter’s Bar on Wednesday 14 November and 12 December. If you want to read, it is best to get there about 8pm as it can get quite busy, and the entertainment starts around 8.30pm. Stamford’s own Pint of Poetry night, on the last Wednesday of the month (so 28 November but not 26 December) from 8pm is in the cellar bar at the Arts Centre on St Mary’s Street. Dr Jane Mackay continues her popular Literature at Lunchtime talks on Tuesday 13 November at Stamford Arts Centre on the poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath. This starts at 12.30pm, and is followed by a screening of the 2003 film Sylvia staring Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig at 2.30pm. Then on Tuesday 4 December the subject is The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein with the option of mince pies and mulled wine afterwards in the Gallery. Tickets for the talks are £5.50, tickets to the films are £5; concessions available.
Congratulations to Simon Stabler (I know that name from somewhere) who won the title of 14th Poet Laureate of Peterborough at the last event of the We Love Words festival in September. In all, a good festival and we’re hoping for another next year. Keep up-to-date with plans by visiting the website of the John Clare Trust at www.clarecottage.org Simon is pictured receiving the official jug from his immediate predecessor, Nikki DiGiovanni, watched on by Mark Grist. To book either ring 01780 763203 or go to the website at www.stamfordartscentre.com The New Networks for Nature symposium at Stamford Arts Centre from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 November features scientists, authors, academics, composers and contributions from such poets as Ruth Padel, Charles Bennett, Andrew McNeille and Matt Merritt. Tickets, which are available from the Arts Centre, for the Ronnie Blythe talk on Thursday evening are £10; day ticket for Friday is £35, a two-day ticket (Friday
and Saturday) £45 and for all three is £50. Top football commentator and writer John Motson will be at the Key Theatre on Wednesday 21 November to talk about his life. From Grandstand, through Match of the Day and Football Focus he must be one of the most recognised sports journalists. Tickets are £18.50 and can be ordered on 01733 207239, by popping into the box office or by going to the website at www.vivacity-peterborough.com As the deadline for entries is Friday 17 December there’s still time to enter for next Continued on page 8