November 2024
Congratulations to Teresa Heeks who was commended in
The Ironbridge Poetry Competition.
Click for more details and to see other winners.
December 2024
Nick Pearson is hosting an Open Mic evening on Thursday, 5th December at Gratitude Café, Duke Street, Wellington, 19:00 for 19:30 start.
Pay-as you-feel. Refreshments available.
Click to sign up beforehand, or on the night, for a four-minute open mic slot.
November 2024
Paul Francis is at Offa's Press City Voices on Tuesday November 12th
at The LychGate Tavern, 44, Queen Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 1TX, 19.30-21.00. Tickets £5 on the door.
Click for more information.
September 2024
Nick Pearson is hosting an Open Mic evening on Thursday, 26th September at Gratitude Café in Wellington, 19:00 for 19:30 start.
Sign up beforehand or on the night for a four-minute slot.
September 2024
Steve Brotherton will be signing copies of his latest book, Mum and Boy, at Shrewsbury Library on Saturday 7th September. 10:00-12:00
Click for more details.
August 2024
Bridgnorth Writers Group are running two shows at
Bridgnorth Library as part of The Bridgnorth Music & Arts Festival.
Friday 23rd August: Live Poets Society
-
Sharon Ashton, Morgan Birch, Barbara Chapman, Paul Francis, Nick Pearson, Lizzie Prudence, Colin Wells and John Woodall.
-
19:30-21:45.
-
Tickets are £5 on the door, but spaces are limited, so please book in advance at the library or email bridgnorth.library@shropshire.gov.uk
-
Everyone is performing FOC and all ticket proceeds go to the library.
Saturday 24th August: A Writer in the Gallery
-
Sharon Ashton will provide a brief history of ekphrastic poetry (poems written in response to art) from Homer to contemporary poets, followed by writing exercises to enable course members to try the genre themselves.
-
10:00-12:30
-
Free event, but spaces are limited, so please book in advance at the library or email bridgnorth.library@shropshire.gov.uk
August 2024
Sharon Ashton will be reading at the zoom launch of
The Alchemy Spoon pamphlet on Thursday 8th August, 19:30-20:30
Click for more details.
July 2024
David Bingham is at a Poetry Workshop & Reading:
Environment, Image and Message @ The Footprint Gallery,
Jackfield Tile Museum on Saturday 13th July.
-
Workshop: 14:00-16:00
-
Reading: 17:00-18:00
-
Workshop and Reading: £10
-
Reading only: £4
For more details and to register interest, click to contact Simon Fletcher.
July 2024
David Bingham is at Offa's Press City Voices at The Lych Gate Tavern, Wolverhampton on Tuesday 16th July, 19:30-21:00.
Tickets £5 on the door
Click for more details from the Offa's Press web site.
July 2024
Sharon Ashton will be at Offa's Press Country Voices at The Water Rat, Ironbridge on Saturday 20th July, 14:30-16:00.
Click for more details from the Offa's Press web site.
June 2024
David Bingham is appearing with Emma Purshouse, Kuli Kohli, Liz Parkes and Simon Fletcher in 'Away with the Birds' at RSPB Sandwell Valley on Saturday 29th June, 14:30-16:00.
Click for tickets from the RSPB web site.
June & July 2024
Steve Brotherton's latest book, Mum and Boy, is available from
28th June. Steve will be at a launch event at Script Haven Bookstore
in Worcester @ 19:00.
Click for more details and tickets.
And at Waterstones in Hereford on 2nd July @ 18:00.
Click for more details and tickets.
June 2024
Colin Wells is opening for singer-songwriter Katie Spencer, promoted by Shire Folk:
-
Thursday 13th June, Ludlow Distillery.
-
Saturday 15th June, Violet's Tea Rooms, Bridgnorth
Click for more details.
May 2024
We're sad to report the passing of our friend and colleague,
Ian Malcolm Parr.
Gill McEvoy wrote:
'I know of no-one who has given so much support to poetry in the North-West as Ian Malcolm Parr, and am really pleased that at last
a collection of his own work is appearing.'
Ian’s move to Shropshire, and his recent membership of Bridgnorth Writers’ Group, did nothing to reduce his appetite for poetic activity.
He was a prolific writer, and attender at poetry readings and poetry workshops. He founded the Bolthole poetry reading group in Ironbridge, and had a phenomenal knowledge of and enthusiasm for a wide range of poetry, much of which he could recite by heart.
This is his most successful poem, shortlisted for the National Poetry competition (that’s the top 120 poems, selected from 14,000 entries):
AUTUMN
(After Autumn Day, by Rainer Maria Rilke.)
We have this seasonal pretence,
believing in One who holds
with infinite softness.
But it’s cruel, autumnal nonsense.
Leaves fall and die.
Skies grow early dark.
Cold rain turns colder into sleet
and gardens close in stink of smoke,
taste of mould.
Our fall is other’s rising.
The sun calls down on us
tumult of the storm.
Such peace defies understanding.
May 2024
Paul Francis' sonnet, Oblivion, has been selected for Ver Poets
2024 anthology.
Click for more details.
May 2024
Teresa Heeks is reading with John Woodall and Ros Woolner at
Offa's Press Country Voices at The Water Rat in Ironbridge
on Saturday 18th May, 14:30-16:00. £5 on the door.
Click for more details.
April 2024
Sharon Ashton's collection, Dancing with Eve, has been shortlisted
and commended in The 2023 Alchemy Spoon Pamphlet Competition.
Judge, Chris Hardy, wrote of Dancing with Eve, 'The language and phrasing used is lively, impassioned, rich, cumulative, also sparse, spare and always suited to what the writer feels must be said.'
A poem from the collection has been selected for A Box of Comfits, published by Clayhanger Press.
Click for details.
April 2024
Nick Pearson is hosting an Open Mic evening on Thursday, 18th April at Gratitude Café in Wellington, 19:00 for 19:30 start.
Sign up beforehand or on the night for a four-minute slot.
Click for more details.
April 2024
Barbara Chapman and Nick Pearson are at Offa's Press Country Voices at The All Nations Inn, Ironbridge, on Saturday, 20th April, 14:30-16:00. Tickets £5 on the door.
Click for more details.
April 2024
Jeff Phelps is performing with Iris Briscoe, Steve Pottinger and
Emma Purshouse at Bridgnorth Library on Tuesday 9th April @ 14:00.
This a free, Poetry-on-Loan event.
March 2024
Steve Brotherton's collection of short stories, Mum and Boy, will be published by The Book Guild on 28th June.
Steve will be talking about Mum and Boy at Waterstones in Hereford on Tuesday 2nd July, 18:00-19:00. Click for more details.
March & April 2024
Beverly Fry has a solo, retrospective exhibition at Footprint Gallery in Jackfield, Ironbridge, from Tuesday 19th March to Sunday 7th April.
Click for more details.
March 2024
Nick Pearson is at Offa's Press Virtual Voices on Saturday, March 23rd, 17:00-18:30. Hosted by Cherry Doyle and Kuli Kohli, and also featuring Fraser Scott, Colin Hambrook and Steve Pottinger.
Click for Zoom link.
March 2024
Jeff Phelps and Ros Woolner will be reading at the launch of the Byways anthology published by Arachne Press on Wednesday,
March 20th @ 18:00. Free online event on Zoom.
Click to register.
March 2024
Paul Francis is at Offa's Press Country Voices with Margaret Lampitt and Jane Seabourne. The Water Rat, Buildwas Road, Ironbridge, TF8 7BJ, on Saturday 16th March, 14:30-16:00. Tickets £5 on the door.
Click for more details.
February 2024
Paul Francis has won first prize in The Enfield Poets Poetry Competition, judged by David Constantine.
Click for more information and to read Paul's winning, sestina, Incorrigible.
February 2024
David Bingham was at Offa's Press Country Voices with Gracey Bee and Hermione Sandall. The Water Rat, Buildwas Road, Ironbridge, TF8 7BJ,
on Saturday 17th February.
Click for more information.
February 2024
Jeff Phelps is reading at Trowbridge Stanza, Stallard Street, Trowbridge.BA14 9AE on Saturday 3rd February 2024, 14:00-16:00.
Tickets £5 on Eventbrite.
Click for more information and to buy tickets.
February 2024
Nick Pearson's poem, The Supremes, San Francisco 1966,
is featured on Pennine Platform.
Click for more information and to hear Nick's reading.
March 2024
The Art of Seeing.
Writing poetry in response to art with prize winning poet and novelist Sharon Ashton at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Galley. A chance to take
a closer look at the museum collection and respond using poetry.
Two sessions on Saturday 16th March and Saturday 23rd March,
10:00-12:30. £30 for both sessions.
Click for more details and to book tickets.
February 2024
Bridgnorth Writers are part of the Writers' Hub at Wolverhampton Literature Festival at The Art Gallery at 14:00 on Sunday 4th February.
Free event.
Our line-up is: David Bingham, Steve Brotherton, Peter Morford,
Ian Parr and Lizzie Prudence.
Click for more details.
February 2024
Colin Wells is at Stars of Slam – part of Wolverhampton Literature Festival – at The Art Gallery at 20:00 on Saturday 3rd February. Tickets £5.
Click for more details and to buy tickets.
January 2024
January 2024
Paul Francis' poem, Tough at the Top, is featured on the
Culture Matters web site.
Click for more details.
December 2023
Sharon Ashton was shortlisted and commended in
The Alchemy Spoon's 2023 pamphlet competition for a
collection of 10 poems.
Click for more details.
December 2023
Bridgnorth Writers were featured in the December issue
of Cannon's Mouth.
Nick Pearson had two poems included: Mayo and The Next Poem.
Paul Francis was successful with Santa with a Van, Star Quality and Breaking Down.
Click for more details.
December 2023
Bridgnorth Writers are included in the Offa's Press anthology, Away with the Birds.
-
David Bingham: Tanka, Haiku (x3) and Slimbridge
-
Paul Francis: With flying colours and Albatross
-
Teresa Heeks: Birdlife and Mistle
-
Jeff Phelps: Bird in the air pump and Swallows
-
Barbara Chapman: No feather in Mrs Lemon's cap
-
Keith Chandler: Martins
-
Sharon Ashton: A Gift of Swans
Click for more details.
December 2023
Bridgnorth Writers have been included in the Offa's Press anthology, Away with the Birds. They'll be reading their poems at Country Voices at The Water Rat, Ironbridge, on Saturday 16th December, 14:30-16:00
Click for more details.
December 2023
Paul Francis' poem The Comeback Kings has been included
in the latest edition of Culture Matters.
Click for more details.
November 2023
Paul Francis' poem Just Talk has been included in the annual
Culture Matters anthology of poetic protest.
Click for more details.
November 2023
Paul Francis' poem Putin and Me has been shortlisted (from 568 entries!) in the recent Gloucestershire Poetry Competition.
Steve Brotherton was at Waterstones in Hereford on Thursday 2nd November. In conversation with Cliona Woods, and promoting Watching the Wheels.
November 2023
Lizzie Prudence and Jeff Phelps are at Offa's Press 'Country Voices' at
The All Nations, 20 Coalport Rd, Telford, TF7 5DP
on Saturday 18th November, 14:30-16:00.
Click for more information.
Ian Parr is running 'Poetry Readers' at the Bolthole Cafe, the Wharfage, Ironbridge, TF8 7AW on Tuesday 7th November, 14:00-16:00. Free event. This month's theme is ‘Fire’.
For more information contact ianmparr@gmail.com
Jeff Phelps will be reading at 'Yes, We Cant', hosted by
Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists.
19.30pm on Sunday 5th November on Zoom.
Pay-as-you-feel event. To reserve a place, email poetsprattlerspandemonialists@gmail.com
Paul Francis and Colin Wells took part in Steve Pottinger's fund-raising Zoom supporting Medical Aid for Palestinians.
Click to donate.
October 2023
Paul Francis' poem, When Braverman quotes Shelley,
has been published by Culture Matters.
Click for more details.
October 2023
Colin Wells Dawn Jutton and John Sewell are at Offa's Press
Country Voices at The White Hart, 10, Wharfage, Ironbridge, TF8 7AW on Saturday 21st October, 14:30-16:00.
Click for more details.
October 2023
Colin Wells is at Shirefolk at The Jam Factory in Hereford on Friday 13th October, supporting singer-songwriter, Lady Nade.
Click for more details.
October 2023
Jeff Phelps will be reading from Falling and Flying, his first full
collection with Offa's Press, at The Lych Gate Tavern, Wolverhampton
on Tuesday 10th October, 19:30-21:00. Tickets £5 on the door.
Also performing: David Fletcher, Ros Woolner and Wolverhampton
Poet Laureate, Kuli Kohli.
Click for more details.
October 2023
Colin Wells is at Waterstones, Saturday 7th October @ 19:30 as part of
The Cheltenham Literature Festival.
Click for more details.
September 2023
Paul Francis won second place in the Shelley Memorial Competition with his poem, Agitation, linking Shelley and Peterloo with
contemporary protestors blocking the extradition of refugees.
September & October 2023
Steve Brotherton was on Billy Spokemon's Omma 'n' Chain Show
on Black Country Radio on Sunday 17th September.
Click to hear a recording.
October 2023
Nick Pearson is hosting an Open Mic night at The Gratitude Cafe in Wellington on Thursday 12th October, 19:00-21:30.
Turn up on the night to book a four-minute slot to read your own poem or a favourite by someone else.
Free entry, with hat round for contributions.
September, October and November 2023
Offa's Press are publishing, Falling and Flying, a new collection by Jeff Phelps.
Jeff will be performing selected poems at:
-
City Voices, The Lychgate, Wolverhampton on Tuesday, 10th October
-
Virtual Voices, Saturday, 28th October
-
Country Voices with Lizzie Prudence, The Water Rat, Saturday, 18th November
Click for more event details.
October 2023
Paul Francis is presenting From Wenlock to Ukraibe: a poetic guided tour at Much Wenlock Library on Thursday 5th October @ 18:00 as part of National Poetry Day.
This is a free event, but booking is recommended.
Click for more details.
September 2023
Chester Poets fiftieth anniversary anthology was published in September, including poems by Ian Parr.
Click for more details.
September & October 2023
BWG friend, Liz Lefroy, has produced an anthology, Festival in a Book, A celebration of Wenlock Poetry Festival, for publication on 28th September.
Beverley Fry Paul Francis Jeff Phelps David Bingham and Ian Parr
have poems included.
-
Online launch: 20:00, Thursday 28th September.
-
Shrewsbury Poetry: Thursday 5th October, 19:30, St Nicholas Cafe Bar.
-
Contact liz.lefroy@btinternet.com for more information or to order.
-
Online Poetry Breakfast: 09:00, Thursday 12th October.
-
info@wenlockbooks.co.uk for more information.
Pengwern Books in Shrewsbury and The Poetry Pharmacy in Bishop's Castle will also have copies for sale.
September & October 2023
Sharon Ashton was published in the September issue of Mslexia.
Click to see the text.
Sharon is running a course at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery in October: The Art of Seeing, Writing poetry in response to Art.
It's a three-week course, 10:00-12:30 on 5th, 12th and 19th October.
£30 per person, booking essential.
More details @ www.shropshiremuseums.org.uk/events.
Paul Francis and David Bingham are involved too, offering masterclasses in Sonnet and Haiku.
September 2023
Pant Poetry Writing workshop, with Simon Fletcher, of Offa's Press and David Bingham on Saturday 2nd September.
The theme will be ‘changing landscapes’ and include an exploration of how poets have responded to differing rural and industrial landscapes.
A wide range of poetic responses will be encouraged.
Meet at Pant village hall, Pant, near Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 9QG, 10am-4pm. Bring your own lunch and sensible clothing. Refreshments will be provided. Tickets £25/£20. There is ample parking at the hall.
Click for more information or email: info@offaspress.co.uk
Click for details of other Offa's Press events.
August 2023
Paul Francis has had poems published this month:
-
Too Hot to Handle? in 'Spilling Cocoa Over Martin Amis'.
-
A series of six sonnets, Levelling down: a sonnet sequence for tough times, were highly commended in 'Is it a Crime to be Poor?'
August 2023
Nick Pearson is appearing at two Offa's Press events in August:
City Voices at The Lychgate, Wolverhampton on Tuesday 8th August, 19:30-21:30. Tickets £4 on the door.
Country Voices at The White Hart, Ironbridge on Saturday 19th August, 14:30-16:00. Tickets £5 on the door.
Click for more details of these and other Offa's Press events.
August 2023
Bridgnorth Writers are running three events at the library at Bridgnorth Music and Arts Festival.
Live Poets Society, an evening of performance poetry from Slam champions, and published and prize-winning poets, Paul Francis, Steve Harrison, Priyanka Joshi, Nick Pearson and Colin Wells,
plus open mics booked in advance.
Thursday 24th August, 19:30-21.45, tickets £5.
Sonnet workshop with Paul Francis, Friday 25th August, 14:00-15:00. Free event, spaces limited.
Haiku workshop with David Bingham, Friday 25th August 15:30-16:30. Free event, spaces limited.
To book tickets, for all events and open mics, call in at the library, phone 01746 763358, Facebook or email bridgnorth.library@shropshire.gov.uk
Click for more details of all Bridgnorth Arts and Music Festival events.
August 2023
Ian Parr is performing at Offa's Press Virtual Voices
on Saturday 26th August @ 17:00.
Click for more details.
July 2023
Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists announced the results of their recent poetry competition, with two Bridgnorth Writers commended from over 500 entries.
Keith Chandler with Homes under the Hammer,
and Barbara Chapman with Capel Celyn – Drinking the Welsh.
Click for full results.
July 2023
Festival 36 celebrates Shakespeare's First Folio coming to Solihull
400 years after its first publication.
36 new poems have been published in Solihull Sonnets.
Paul Francis has two included: Distinctive Character and Solihull Extras.
July 2023
David Bingham is appearing at Offa's Press City Voices on Tuesday July 11th at The Lychgate Tavern, Wolverhampton Tickets £4 on the door.
June 2023
Paul Francis' poem, The Mandelson Masterclass, has been published on the Culture Matters web site.
June 2023
Sharon Ashton's poem, Come May, will be published in the next issue of The Alchemy Spoon.
June 2023
Colin Wells was second in The Ludlow Festival Poetry Slam.
June 2023
Jeff Phelps' poem, Song of Ham's Wife, was second in
Frome Festival Poetry Competition, winning him a three-day residential writing course.
June 2023
Don't forget the invitation to Beverly Fry's private viewing at Halls Fine Art, Shrewsbury on Wednesday 7th June, 17:30-20.00. Also open weekdays 5th-30th June, 10:00-15:00.
Click for more details, or see a couple of entries below.
June 2023
Offa's Press have organised several spoken word events in June.
Nick Pearson is at City Voices at The Lychgate in Wolverhampton on Tuesday 13th June @ 19:30, and Jeff Phelps is on Virtual Voices on Saturday 24th June @ 17;00.
Click for more details of these and other Offa's Press events.
June 2023
Sharon Ashton was long-listed in the Plough Poetry Competition with Market Day – click to read Sharon's poem – and Keith Chandler was short-listed with General Zhao addresses his Daughter. Both poems were highly commended.
Click for more details.
May 2023
Halls Fine Art will be hosting a solo exhibition by local artist and Bridgnorth Writer Beverley Fry in the Darwin Gallery at its Battlefield showrooms next month.
The retrospective exhibition will showcase Bev's 40-year career as a professional artist, and represent the full range of Fry’s oeuvre including her landscapes, still life studies and portraits.
Bev was on Sky Arts TV show Portrait Artist of the Year in 2018 and her self-portrait from the programme will be available for sale in the gallery during the exhibition.
Bev will be holding live portrait painting sessions in the gallery, where visitors can watch her at work with brush in hand.
The exhibition will be open weekdays 5th-30th June, 10:00-15:00, and admission is free.
For more information, please contact Halls Paintings and Prints Specialist Abigail Molenaar: abigailm@hallsgb.com 01743 450 700
Or click for more details.
May 2023
Nick Pearson has been chosen as Wellington's third Resident Poet, in memory of Stuart Taylor.
Click here for more details, and here to read Nick's poem Imagine.
Nick will be writing more poems to mark local and national events.
May 2023
Paul Francis Ros Woolner and Kerry Hadley-Pryce will be at Country Voices at The Water Rat in Ironbridge on Saturday 20th May. Ros will be launching her new collection Earth Walker – reviewed here – which will be available at the event, or from the Offa's Press shop where you'll find a great selection of poetry books, including many by Bridgnorth Writers.
Click for event details.
May 2023
Jeff Phelps will be reading at the Shrewsbury Poetry online event with Adam Horovitz and Bethany Rivers. Thursday 4th May at 7.30pm
Click for more details.
April 2023
Sharon Ashton's play Swim said the Momma Fishie has been optioned for future production by York Settlement Community Players.
Click for more details.
April 2023
Paul Francis has two poems in Welcome to Britain: An Anthology of Poems and Short Fiction.
Click for more details.
April 2023
Paul Francis' account of the Johnson hearings, Narcissus in the Dock, has been published by Culture Matters.
Click for more details.
April 2023
Teresa Heeks will have two poems displayed at The National Trust Weir Garden, near Hereford: Mistle and The Weir Garden.
Click for more details.
April 2023
Keith Chandler is performing at Country Voices at The Water Rat, Ironbridge on Saturday 15th April at 14:30.
Click for more details from Offa's Press.
April 2023
Paul Francis' poem Speaking for Herself is included in
the current edition of Magma: 85, Poems for Schools.
Click for more details.
March 2023
Teresa Heeks has published a pamphlet, 'Thanksgiving',
including poems that she read at Wolverhampton Literature Festival.
Copies available from Teresa direct, at BWG meetings, or contact bridgnorthwritersgroup@outlook.com
March 2023
Paul Francis is judge of The Waltraud Field Poetry Competition.
Closing date 1st May 2023.
Click for more details.
March 2023
Jeff Phelps' poem, Old House, has been entered into The Forward Prize
for best single poem.
Click for more details.
February 2023
February 2023
Sarah Baker's book, 'The Catapult Kid', has been selected by Detroit Library for a themed story session.
Click for more details of The Catapult Kid.
February 2023
Barbara Chapman, David Bingham, Steve Brotherton, Teresa Heeks, and Lizzie Prudence performed at The Writers Hub in Wolverhampton Art Gallery as part of The Wolverhampton Literature Festival.
Click for round up of events at The Wolverhampton Literature Festival.
February 2023
Paul Francis and Jeff Phelps are reading at Virtual Voices
– an Offa's Press Zoom event – on Saturday 25th February, 17:00-18:30.
Click for more details.
February 2023
Sharon Ashton and Keith Chandler have been shortlisted in the Wolverhampton Literature Festival 2023 Poetry Competition.
All successful poems will be read at a free event at The Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton on Sunday 5th February @ 16:00.
Click for more details.
February 2023
Sharon Ashton's poem, Dying Swan, is one of four runners-up in The Daily Telegraph 2023 Poetry Competition.
Sharon's poem was selected from several hundred entries, and the judge, Tristram Fane Saunders, commented: 'Dying Swan seduced me with its sheer musicality – “down, boned and tight-sewn” – as she portrays the bird’s last moments. Just read these lines aloud: “this shift to winged other/ this stepping of flesh to gradated feather.'
Click to read Dying Swan.
February 2023
Lizzie Prudence and David Bingham are at Country Voices at
The Water Rat, Ironbridge, on Saturday 18th February.
Click for more details from Offa's Press.
February 2023
David Bingham and Simon Fletcher from Offa's Press are leading a poetry writing workshop, 'The Built Landscape', including a gentle
walk, and looking at the effects of roads, canals, railways, quarrying
and housing developments.
Starting at Pant Village Hall, near Oswestry, SY10 9QG, on Saturday
10th February 12:00-16:00.
Tickets £25/£20 including refreshments. Please bring your own lunch
and suitable clothing.
For more details, email Simon Fletcher or phone 01691 831463.
February & March 2023
Steve Brotherton is launching his latest collection of short stories, Watching the Wheels, at local events over the next few weeks:
-
Shrewsbury Library on Saturday 25th February, 11:00-13:00. Free drop-in event with signed books at half price (£5).
-
Ironbridge Fine Arts Museum, Merrythought Village on Saturday 4th March 11:00-13:00. Free drop-in event.
-
Telford Library on Saturday 11th March @ 12:00. Tickets from Eventbrite.
February 2023
Colin Wells is appearing with Joy France at Poetry Whitchurch at The Old Music Hall, Whitchurch. Open mics available on the night.
Monday 27th February @ 19:30. Tickets £3 on the door.
Click for more details.
February 2023
David Bingham, Barbara Chapman, Steve Brotherton, Teresa Black and Lizzie Prudence are appearing at The Wolverhampton Literature Festival Writers' Hub at Wolverhampton Art Gallery on Sunday 5th February, 12:30-13:30. Free event.
Click for more events at The Wolverhampton Literature Festival.
January 2023
Colin Wells is at The Wolverhampton Literature Festival Poetry Slam at The Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SE.
Saturday 28th January, 19:30-21;00.
Click for tickets and more events at The Wolverhampton Literature Festival.
January 2023
Ian Parr is at Offa's Press Country Voices – MC'd by Simon Fletcher – with Priyanka Joshi and Ros Woolner, at The Water Rat, Buildwas Road, Ironbridge, TF8 7BJ.
Saturday January 21st, 14:30-16:00. Tickets £5 on the door.
January 2023
Colin Wells is appearing at Offa's Press City Voices – MC'd by Simon Fletcher – with Parveen Brigue, Kenton Samuels, Anne Babbs and Ros Woolner, at The Lych Gate, 44, Queen Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 1TX.
Tuesday 10th January, 19:30-21;00. Tickets £4 on the door.
January 2023
The first meeting of The Ironbridge Poetry Readers’ Group will be at The Bolthole Cafe, 4, The Wharfage, Ironbridge, TF8 7AW,
on Monday 9th January, 14:00-16:00.
The idea of the group is to share poems by other poets and then, in a second read-around, the members’ own work on the same theme. Photocopies would be helpful. The theme for the first meeting is ‘winter'. Free event.
For more information, please go to the Offa's Press web site
or contact Simon Fletcher at simonfletcher58@gmail.com
or Ian Parr at ianmparr@gmail.com
December 2022
Paul Francis and Kuli Kohli, Wolverhampton Poet Laureate, are at Offa's Press Country Voices at The Water Rat, Buildwas Road, Ironbridge, TF8 7BJ on Saturday 17th December, 14:30-16:00.
Tickets £5 on the door.
Click for more information.
November 2022
Ian Parr will be reading at The Winter Festival at St Laurence Church, Ludlow on Friday 25th November, 19:00-21:00.
Click for more details of this and other Ludlow Winter Festival events
Ian is in The Shrewsbury Festival of Literature Poetry Slam.
Saturday 26th November at The Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury, SY1 1TE.
November 2022
Nick Pearson will be at Offa's Press Virtual Voices with Sheryl McMahon, Peter Sutton and Santos K. Dary on Saturday 26th November, 17:00-18:30.
Click for more information and Zoom link.
November 2022
Colin Wells is supporting Parveen Brigue and Emma Purshouse at Offa's Press Country Voices at The Water Rat, Buildwas Road, Ironbridge, TF8 7BJ on Saturday 19th November, 14:30-16:00.
Tickets £5 on the door. Click for more information.
November 2022
Paul Francis is featured at the Shrewsbury Poetry Zoom event on November 3rd, 19:30-21:00.
Click for Facebook information and Zoom link.
October 2022
Two successes for Bridgnorth Writers in The Gloucestershire Poetry Society competition:
-
Paul Francis was commended for 'Raising Chicago'.
-
Keith Chandler was on the final short list for 'The Last Frost Fair'.
Winning poems are published in Steel Jackdaw 8.
October 2022
Colin Wells was second in The Gorilla Slam at The Gloucester Poetry Festival.
October 2022
Paul Francis' poem about Kwasi Kwarteng, Blind Spot,
has been published on the Culture Matters web site.
Only just in time!
October 2022
Colin Wells won the slam at The Wirral Poetry Festival.
October 2022
Jeff Phelps will be reading at a Poetry on Loan event at Solihull Library, The Core, Homer Road, Solihull, B91 3RG at 2pm.
Contact: Nickie Thomas, 0121 704 6965. Free event.
October 2022
Nick Pearson is at Offa's Press 'City Voices at The Light House,
Fryer Street, Wolverhampton on Tuesday 11th October, 19:30-21:00.
Tickets £5 on the door.
October 2022
Colin Wells won the slam at The Cheltenham Poetry Festival.
October 2022
As part of National Poetry Day, Much Wenlock Library is hosting an evening of poems, conversation and cake, featuring Nick Pearson.
Thursday 6th October @ 6pm. Free event, but booking is highly recommended. Details on the library web site or call 01952 728293.
October 2022
Paul Francis' poem, Ode to Autumn, 2022 has been selected
for the Culture Matters web site.
'Seasons of mist. Unregulated Truss ...'
October 2022
Sharon Ashton's poem, Limina, has been shortlisted as a finalist in
The Wells Festival of Literature Poetry Competition.
Sharon will be reading at Cedars Hall, Wells on Monday 17th October
@ 14:00, when the winners will be announced.
Click for tickets for this and other events.
October 2022
Colin Wells is appearing at The Stourbridge Labour Party Poetry Night
on Thursday 13th October, 19:00-22:30. Hosted by Willis the Poet
(AKA Rick Sanders), and also featuring Cherry Doyle and Sallyanne Rock.
Click for tickets.
October 2022
Colin Wells is at The Wirral Poetry Festival Slam at The Bridge Inn, Wirral on Saturday 8th October 18:00-20:00.
Click for more events at The Wirral Poetry Festival.
October 2022
Ian Parr is presenting a paper on John Clare's first collection of 1820: 'Poems Descriptive of a Rural Life' at Lingham's Booksellers in Heswall on Thursday 6th October @ 19:00.
Click for more events at The Wirral Poetry Festival.
October 2022
To celebrate the inaugural Ironbridge Festival of the Imagination poetry competition, you can hear the winning and shortlisted poets – including Bridgnorth Writers, Sharon Ashton, Teresa Heeks,
Paul Francis and Ian Parr – read their work.
This free event is on Sunday 2nd October 15:00-18:00 and will be hosted on Zoom by Poets, Prattlers, and Pandemonialists.
email for the Zoom link:
September 2022
Ian Parr and Paul Francis are appearing at an Ironbridge Festival event at The Water Rat, Ironbridge, on Thursday 29th September @ 19:30.
Free entry and open mic. Click for more details.
September 2022
Keith Chandler's poem, The Goldsmith's Apprentice, has been reviewed and analysed by Catherine Smith on The Poetry Society web site.
September & October 2022
Colin Wells is at The Poetry Slam at The Ironbridge Festival of Imagination on Saturday 1st October @ 20:00.
Click for details of this and other events at The Festival from
15th September to 3rd October.
September 2022
In The Shelley Memorial Competition, Paul Francis was highly commended for Memorial and long-listed for Highlights Reel.
September 2022
Sharon Ashton had two poems short-listed in The Poetry on the Lake Competition: Lunchtime Concerts at St Alkmund's and
St Cuthbert reflects on life, death and St Kevin.
September 2022
Congratulations to Bridgnorth Writers on recent successes in
The Ironbridge Poetry Competition.
Paul Francis won the TF postcode prize with Missing Paula Rego and
was highly commended in the wider competition for two other poems: Activist and Hope in '63.
Also in the TF postcode competition, Ian Parr was commended
for Spring Cider, and Teresa Heeks for Birdlife.
In the wider competition, Keith Chandler was commended for
On Dewsbury Hill, and Sharon Ashton for If you're ever in Rome, she said.
The competition was part of The Ironbridge Festival of Imagination with loads of great events from 15th September to 3rd October.
September & October 2022
Jeff Phelps is at:
-
'Poetry of the English Landscape' at The Water Rat on Saturday 17th September @ 14:30-16:00.
-
Wordsley Library on Friday 7th October @ 10:30. (Free event)
-
Stoke Central Library on Saturday 8th October @ 11:00. (Free event)
More details on the Offa's Press web site.
September 2022
Colin Wells is at The Cheltenham Poetry Slam on Saturday 24th September.
Click for more details of this and many other events at
September 2022
David Bingham and John Woodall are at The All Nations Inn on Thursday 22nd September, 2100-22:00.
Free event. More details on the Offa's Press web site.
July 2022
David Bingham is at Virtual Voices on Saturday July 23rd, 17:00-18:30.
More details on the Offa's Press web site.
July 2022
Paul Francis is part of a great line-up at Get a Word in Edgeways at
The Much Wenlock Festival of Words, 8th-10th July.
Paul is in the Medium Marquee on Sunday 10th July, 13:45-14:45, with
Poems in the News. Click to book.
July 2022
Jeff Phelps will be a special guest at Wenlock Books' online Poetry Breakfast on the theme of 'Between Places'. It's on Thursday 14th July, starts at 09:00 and runs for approximately an hour. Guide price for attendance at the Zoom event is £5. Click for more details.
Jeff has also had a poem selected for Poetry on Loan's Poetry Postcards on the subject of 'Strangers and Friends'. Some time over the next few months the poems will go on postcards with illustrations, and be distributed free in libraries across the West MIdlands. Look out for them!
July 2022
Colin Wells will be a contestant in The Ledbury Poetry Festival Slam on
Saturday 9th July @ 20:30 at The Market Theatre.
Click for more details of 82 – yes 82! –poetry events at The Ledbury Poetry Festival.
June 2022
The official launch of Paul Francis' latest book, Poems about Ukraine, is at 19:30, on Friday 17th June, at Priory Hall, Much Wenlock. Admission free, and refreshments provided.
Also available for £5 from Liberty Books, Much Wenlock, TF13 6JQ, or email francisliberty@btinternet.com
June 2022
On Tuesday 21st June @ 19:30, Paul Francis is taking part in a
Shropshire Supports Refugees event. Paul and other contributors will be reading from 'You're Welcome' with the main speaker, Gulwali Passarlay.
Gulwali Passarlay, author of 'The Lightless Sky', left Afghanistan for the West as a 12-year old refugee, and features in this TED Talk from seven years ago.
Paul is also appearing at Get a Word in Edgeways in Much Wenlock,
8th–10th July. Dates and times to follow on their web site.
June 2022
It's five years since Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists
(aka, Emma Purshouse, Steve Pottinger and Dave Pitt) started
Yes We Cant at The Pretty Bricks in Walsall.
To celebrate their birthday, they've invited two poets who appeared at the first event to perform again on Sunday 5th June @ 19:30.
Jonny Fluffypunk is headlining , and our very own, Paul Francis
is the 'Alf Ender.
It's a Zoom event this month. Click for more details or,
to reserve your place, email poetsprattlerspandemonialists@gmail.com
June 2022
Sarah Baker and Colin Wells will be at The Belle Vue Arts Festival at Barnabas Church Centre, Shrewsbury, SY3 7DN on Thursday 16th June 19:30–21:45.
Click for full programme of events, 11th– 25th June.
Colin will appearing at Offa's Press Virtual Voices on Tuesday 14th June.
May 2022
Paul Francis is appearing with Emma Purshouse and Jill Tromans at Offa's Press Country Voices at The Water Rat, on Saturday 21st May
@ 14:30–16:00. Tickets £5 on the door.
Paul will be launching his latest book, Poems about Ukraine, also available for £5 from Liberty Books, Much Wenlock, TF13 6JQ, or email francisliberty@btinternet.com
May 2022
Welcome to new Bridgnorth Writers member, Ian Parr.
Ian is well-known on the poetry circuit, and forthcoming projects include:
'Poetry Worth Hearing', Episode Four includes an item by Diana Sanders on a collaboration with her and other poets putting music and sound effects into poems as part of “The Unstoppable Music Project” which is available on CD.
Wednesday 18th May 2022, 7.30pm: delayed launch of Ian's collection 'Singing Tomorrows' at St, Werburgh’s Parish Centre, Chester.
16th–19th June 2022. 8th Annual RS Thomas & ME Eldridge Festival, Aberdaron, Wales. Ian will be assisting Philip Gross with the poetry workshops and will host the evening concert of poetry at Felin Ichaf.
Thursday 7th July 2022, 10:00–16:00. 'First Thursday' at Lingham’s Bookshop, Heswall, Wirral. As part of the poetry, music and spoken work performances Ian will be giving a talk on John Clare’s first poetry collection, Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery published in 1820.
May 2022
Ann and Charlie Garratt are at a 'Meet the Authors' event at Broseley Library on Wednesday 4th May @ 11:00-12:30.
Charlie is at Wellington Festival on Saturday 7th May @ 10:00–16:00
March 2022
Poems by Lizzie Prudence and Keith Chandler are included in A Staffordshire Poetry Collection edited by Bert Flitcroft, published by Clayhanger Press
March 2022
In June last year Sharon Ashton won 2nd prize in the prestigious Poetry on the Lake competition.
Great to hear that Poetry on the Lake have entered 'Ilaria Triptych' for The Forward Prize for Best Single Poem.
February 2022
Congratulations to Paul Francis who was joint first in the
Bishops Castle poetry competition with 'The Covid Interview'.
February 2022
Welcome to two new Bridgnorth Writers members: Ann and Charlie Garratt.
Ann won a short story competition for Irish writers in Coventry. She was a regular voluntary contributor to The Donegal Democrat and has written several short stories which were published in Woman's Way. In 2010 Ann had five short pieces about her childhood broadcast on Lyric FM and this provided the inspiration to begin her memoir, The Road Taken which was self-published in 2014 detailing her experiences of emigration and mental health problems. In addition, three of her short stories were included in the anthology Wild Atlantic Words in 2016.
Charlie's first novel, A Shadowed Livery, was published in 2015, followed by three more detective novels set in 1938-1940, featuring Inspector James Given. The fifth novel in the series, A Malignant Death, is due to be published by Sapere Books in Spring 2022.
He self-published A Handkerchief for Maria during lockdown in 2020. It is a family saga, based on researching his own family. He’s had short stories published in an anthology, Wild Atlantic Words, and had a number of non-fiction titles on community development and tenant involvement published.
He’s currently working on a new project, a detective series set in 18th century Bridgnorth.
Click to preorder Charlie’s new book A Malignant Death.
Click here to buy Charlie's books.
February 2022
Paul Francis' poem 'Value for Money' has been included in the
Culture Matters anthology, A Fish Rots From The Head.
February 2022
A couple of successes at The Wolverhampton Literature Festival for Bridgnorth Writers:
Paul Francis was on the final short list with 'A Podcast History of the City' and Colin Wells was second in the Slam at The Arena Theatre.
February 2022
David Bingham, Barbara Chapman, Sarah Baker, Peter Morford, Lizzie Prudence, Steve Brotherton and Colin Wells appeared at The Lighthouse as part of the Writers Hub events.
February 2022
Great to see that Jeff Phelps is already making his mark on the Wiltshire writing scene with a special mention in The Corsham Storytown Poetry Competition and a poem in Contagious Tales – 22 modern folk tales in the wake of the pandemic & climate crisis.
February 2022
On Friday 25th February, Paul Francis and Steve Pottinger are co-hosting 'Poems about Migration', a Zoom event that draws on work from two recent collections: Poetry and Settled Status for All, edited by Ambrose Musiyiwa, and You’re Welcome, edited by Paul Francis.
Readers will include, Paul Francis, Steve Harrison, Chris Kinsey
and Emma Purshouse.
If you'd like to attend by Zoom on Friday 25th February, 19:30-20:30,
please email Colin Wells at colin@colinwells.com who will
acknowledge your request and send you an invitation.
February 2022
Colin Wells will be at the Poetry Slam at Stroud Subscription Rooms on Sunday 20th February.
February 2022
Lizzie Prudence is appearing at Country Voices at The Water Rat, Ironbridge, on February 12th 14:30-16:30. Click for more details.
February 2022
On February 12th, David Bingham is running a poetry workshop on 'winter images'. Meet at Pant village hall, near Oswestry, 10:00-16:00. Click for more details and to book a ticket.
February 2022
Bridgnorth Writers are at the Writers Hub event at
The Lighthouse on 6th February @ 14:30 including, Sarah Baker, David Bingham, Steve Brotherton, Barbara Chapman,
Peter Morford, Lizzie Prudence, and Colin Wells.
This is part of The Wolverhampton Literature Festival.
February 2022
Offa's Press are at the 'Meet the Publishers' event at Wolverhampton Gallery on February 4th as part of The Wolverhampton Literature Festival. Readings from Offa's Press authors, including Nick Pearson, from 14:45-15.45
January 2022
Colin Wells is in The Wolverhampton Literature Festival Poetry Slam on January 29th at The Arena Theatre. Click for more details of this and other events at The Festival
January 2022
Congratulations to Paul Francis whose poem
'The Willow Rooms' was highly commended in the Cannon Poets Sonnet or Not competition.
November 2021
Steve Brotherton's new book, Fractures, Dreams and Second Chances
was featured recently in The Shropshire Star.
Steve will be signing books at:
Saturday 20th November 10:00-12:00
-
The Greenhouse Cafe, Shrewsbury,
Saturday 27th November, 11:30–13:30
October 2021
Another success for Paul Francis whose poem
'To my left knee' has been published on the excellent
Poetry in the Waiting Room web site.
October 2021
Congratulations to Barbara Chapman whose poem
'The Continuity of Geese' was long-listed in the Black Eyes Publishing/Gloucestershire Poetry Society competition.
October 2021
Liz Kershaw has been short-listed for the Historical Writers' Association Award for her short story 'The Guard of Honour' and was commended for her ‘perfect writing and sharply observed characterisations as one man makes a choice.’
October 2021
Well done Sharon Ashton who is included in the PoArtry 2021 anthology. It's a beautifully designed and innovative web site, and definitely worth a visit.
October 2021
Congratulations to Alison Nichol-Smith who has won the Wrekin Writers Doris Gooderson competition with her short story 'The Hide'.
September 2021
Colin Wells is appearing at:
Virtual Voices with Offa's Press on Tuesday 14th September.
Caffe Grand Slam in Dudley on Thursday 28th October.
Shrewsbury Festival of Literature on Sunday 28th November.
Tickets available from event web sites.
September 2021
Loads of great events at The Ironbridge Festival of Imagination from 11th to 26th September, including
spoken word shows featuring Bridgnorth Writers.
Nick Pearson is appearing at The Water Rat Inn @ 16:00 on Saturday 11th September.
Lizzie Prudence will be performing five Haiku, supported by Catherine Redfern on flute, as part of Haiku Surprise at
The Water Rat Inn on Sunday 12th September @ 15:00.
David Bingham is at The All Nations Inn @ 20:00 on Thursday 16th September.
Tickets available from the Ironbridge Festival web site.
September 2021
Paul Francis has a poem, Golfing Heaven, published on the excellent Spilling Cocoa over Martin Amis website, specialising in light/comic/funny poetry.
August 2021
Offa's Press have just published In the Sticks, an Arts Council England-supported anthology, edited by Simon Fletcher and Cherry Doyle.
In the Sticks takes a dispassionate look at life in the countryside in the West Midlands today. There are poems about farming and fishing, the changing environment and village life, nature, rural isolation and romance.
Poems by several Bridgnorth Writers have been included: Barbara Chapman, Nick Pearson, Paul Francis,
Ruthie Starling and Teresa Heeks. And David Bingham
and Jeff Phelps have two each!
In the Sticks is available from the Offa's Press online shop.
August 2021
Paul Francis has had more competition successes recently.
A poem has been included in Feathers and Pennies, Poems and Stories for the Matchgirls.
And three poems have been selected for the Poetry and Covid website.
July 2021
Steve Brotherton's latest book, Fractures, Dreams and Second Chances, published by The Book Guild, will be launched at The Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery on Saturday 31st July from 11:00-13:00.
You don't need a ticket – just drop in to meet Steve and pick up a signed copy.
July 2021
Offa's Press are involved with six spoken events in July, and some of them are live! More details here.
They include Nick Pearson at Virtual Voices on Zoom on Tuesday 13th July, and David Bingham at Country Voices at The Water Rat in Ironbridge on Saturday 17th July.
July 2021
Colin Wells is appearing at The Ledbury Poetry Festival Slam on Saturday 10th July and at The Belle Vue Arts Festival on Thursday 15th July.
Loads of great events at both, so definitely worth checking their web sites.
June 2021
Well done, Paul Francis, whose poem, 'Watch', was commended at The Welshpool Poetry Festival.
June 2021
Congratulations to Sharon Ashton who has won 2nd prize in the prestigious Poetry on the Lake competition, which includes an invitation to read her poem at Lake Orta in October.
May 2021
This was a reading on Zoom, from the poetry anthology recently edited by Ambrose Musiyiwa. Ambrose introduced the performance, which featured ten poets reading their work, a concentrated taste of the varied talents in this collection. Steve Pottinger and Paul Francis were two of the poets involved.
May 2021
Jeff Phelps has a poem in Dear Dylan, an anthology after Dylan Thomas published by Indigo Dreams.
May 2021
Sharon Ashton read at the launch of Alchemy Spoon Issue 3: Spell on May 1st at 19:30.
Click for the Alchemy Spoon You Tube channel.
Click for a pdf of Issue 3: Spell, which includes Sharon's poem Bell, Book and Candle.
April 2021
Jeff Phelps has a poem on the front page of Poetry on Loan.
Click for more details and to see a video of Jeff reading New Lands.
April 2021
Paul Francis' new poetry book, Dreams of Brexit, was published by Liberty Books in May 2021
Click for more details.
April 2021
Jeff Phelps was a guest – with 1990s Chris and Ann Atkins – on a recent edition of the excellent Brum Radio Poets, hosted by Rick Sanders (aka Willis the Poet).
Click for a recording of the show – well worth a listen.
April 2021
Steve Brotherton's novel, Fractures, Dreams and Second Chances, was published by The Book Guild on 28th May.
Click for more details.
April 2021
Paul Francis has published a new collection, Rescue from the Dark.
March 2021
Congratulations to Sharon Ashton whose poem Bell, Book and Candle has been selected for publication in the next issue of The Alchemy Spoon.
March 2021
Great to hear that the poem that Teresa Black read at a recent BWG meeting – Rhyme Royal – has won first prize in The Society of Medical Writers poetry competition.
March 2021
Beverly Fry's daughter – and BWG friend – Anna Selby's Field Notes has been included in The Poetry Book Society's 12 poetry books to read on International Women's Day, and has been in The London Review of Books bestsellers list for 14 weeks.
'Field Notes take us beneath the waves, with poems written on waterproof notebooks in the Atlantic Ocean, whilst observing marine environments. Beautifully published by Hazel Press, an independent publisher with a focus on climate change and feminism.'
Click here for more details.
March 2021
Liz Kershaw and her son Joe (though Liz tells me that it's mostly Joe!) have come up with an exciting idea called The People’s Story.
The aim is to create the world’s largest collaborative story. Writers register and claim a page, then write their own page within a time frame (it’s only 1750 characters, about 300 words) to continue the story.
The project supports World Book Day and any profits made from eventual publication will go to Book Aid.
Click here for more details.
March 2021
Well done to Paul Francis who continues to be successful in local and national poetry competitions.
Paul was joint third in the Bishops Castle poetry competition with his poem Hope Springs Eternal about the young man who jet-skied from Scotland to The Isle of Man to meet his girlfriend.
And Paul has been selected for inclusion in the Shoestring Press anthology, Poems for the Year 2020, edited by Merryn Williams.
March 2021
Congratulations to Sarah Baker and Alison Nichol-Smith who were both winners in the Bedtime Story Competition at The Wolverhampton Literature Festival
Click here for a subtitled recording of Sarah's story:
Little Silver Lining.
Click here for a subtitled recording of Alison's story:
Charlie's Dad.
March 2021
Here's a good outlet for flash fiction writers, and it's where Bridgnorth Writers, including Jeff Phelps, Toli Kram, David Bingham and Peter Morford, have previously been published.
Click for more details.
March 2021
Nick Pearson's new book, Barista has receently been launched.
We've heard extracts at recent Bridgnorth Writers meetings, and it's highly recommended.
Barista and Nick's previous book, Made in Captivity, are available now from Offa's Press.
