Poet Laureate at Southwell

Carol Ann Duffy opened Southwell Library Poetry Festival on Friday 10th July, her reading attracting just under 400 people – the highest attendance at any poetry reading in Nottinghamshire in living memory! This was actually her first reading as Poet Laureate as Carol Ann had met the Queen the previous day to be formally appointed. The Festival was opened by Cllr John Cottee, the new Cabinet Member for Culture and Community at Nottinghamshire County Council, with several other Councillors in attendance. With the authority changing hands at the recent election it was good to see the new team supporting the Festival in such a prominent way. The reading was well received, clearing out the bookstall, with Carol Ann spending as much time talking to individuals in the signing queue as the reading itself. Carol Ann was introduced by Derbyshire poet Cathy Grindrod, who started the series of Southwell Poetry Festivals in 2000.

The reading was held in The Minster School in Southwell, which also hosted a recent “rap guide to Darwin” performance as part of the Lowdham Book Festival.

The Southwell Library Poetry Festival continues until 19 July with everything from Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze reading to Newark and Sherwood Concert Band, all thirty of them, playing “stirring music” with readings of “stirring poetry”.

The full programme appears on www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/southwellpoetry.pdf