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Come along to the John Clare Festival 11-13 July 2008
John Clare, Northamptonshire Poet, was a remarkable man. Born 13th July
1793, and living most of his life in the village of Helpston, near Peterborough, he is remembered today in several different ways.
Most famously, he was a poet, with a phenomenal output through his life. His life story is fascinating, the son of an illiterate man, becoming the most famous literary figure in England for just one year, ending up in an asylum, still writing. His anger, expressed in both poetry and prose, about the Enclosure of the countryside. His observation and description of the flowers, plants, animals and birds around him – he wrote as one who lived there, rather than the visiting Victorians who started 50 years later. His wit in writing about the village characters and minor officialdom. His love of the English Folksong and Music that was all around him.
The JOHN CLARE FESTIVAL 11-13 July 2008 celebrates his life and work in the village he loved so much http://www.johnclare.org.uk/jcsevents.htm
FRIDAY 11 JULY
6pm: Guided Walk around Helpston – meet at the Buttercross in the village centre
7.30pm: MUSIC - JOHN CLARE’S BIRTHDAY SONG & MUSIC SESSION – free - with refreshments – in the barn behind the Exeter Arms - raffle
SATURDAY 12 JULY
10am: Sales of book, etc, coach trip & concert tickets in the John Clare School
10.30: John Clare Society AGM in marquee behind the school
11.15: Address by author Ronald Blythe in the marquee
12-2: Lunch at Blue Bell, Exeter Arms or Village Hall. Morris & Folk Dance displays
2pm: TALK - POETS & FIDDLERS: MUSICAL TRADITIONS IN THE
POETRY OF CLARE, HARDY & BARNES – an illustrated talk by Dave
Townsend, concertina, fiddle player & singer – exploring their poetic
responses to the music of their own communities
3: Coach tour with commentary (ticket needed) from outside the School, visiting Glinton, Northborough/Maxey Mill
3: Guided Walk around Helpston – meet at the Buttercross in the village centre
5.30: Poetry readings in St Botolph’s Church – bring a favourite Clare poem
7pm (to 9pm): CONCERT in the marquee behind the school- THE MELLSTOCK BAND present music and songs of rural England on voice, oboe, clarinet, concertina, fiddle & serpent.
Tickets: £10, students & senior citizens £8 from Pete Shaw 01778 571563 0r 07946 758197
http://www.mellstockband.com/
9: Music in the Blue Bell by Ock ‘n Dough – Northamptonshire Folk group
http://www.ockndough.co.uk/
http://www.peterboroughfolkdiary.org.uk
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