The first inaugural Words Among the Heather in the piano bar at Millgate Arts Centre was a rip-roaring success!
Conceived as an homage to Saddleworth's most famous poet, Ammon Wrigley, it was run and organised by James Lawton and Lorraine Reynolds. James read a lovely Ammon Wrigley poem which had inspired the evening's title.
'Like the wind Among the Heather,
Just as careless and as free,
Up and down this old Moor parish,
Let's go traipsing, you and me.'
-Ammon Wrigley
The evening introduced an eclectic mix of poets to a very receptive audience. There should be a collective noun for poets, maybe a plethora of poets? No two poets were the same, although there was a theme of trains running through several poets' work.
Musician/ singer Ian F Ball set the scene with his tongue twisting song and lively music.
James, a poet himself and a lover of sonnets, made a good MC. He had done his homework on each poet and gave them a good introduction and made notes during each performance, so he was able to make favourable comments after each poet's set. Well done James!
In James' own words, "The ‘Vixen of Verse’, Carolyn Crossley kicked off the open mic with her humorous and heartfelt poetry; Mike Rooke offered a range of serious, thoughtful vignettes. Sandy Parkinson earned the title of ‘Mossley’s own Victoria Wood’, with her jovial horticultural humour; Simon Attridge delivered some haunting poems with real sensory resonance. The event’s only prose performance came from local writer, Jo Harthan, who read an uncanny and atmospheric chapter from her locally-set novel, ‘Reaper of Souls’ (very apt for the spooky season). The first half was closed by host Lorraine Reynolds, with her ebullient humour, authentic voice, and even some sexy lingerie!"
"After some liquid libations during the interval, the second half saw another Mossley Writer, Maralyn Tohill, skilfully spin a story of intrigue and laughter, set on a local bus; despite some pre-performance nerves, Ian Mosley had the whole room laughing with a brilliant debut.
‘Poet of mindfulness’ Ren Jebbett enchanted with poetry and stories drawn from her own life and nature; Kevin Wright moved us with a timely, eloquent commentary on war and remembrance. Local legend Keith Begley reanimated the spirit of Ammon Wrigley and the spirit of the evening, with his odes to Saddeworth, community and nature. The at-first-unassuming Mick Neary waited patiently for his turn, before wowing the whole room with his witty, heartfelt rhymes, all impressively performed from memory. The final two performers, Pip Fowler and Cathy Crabb ended the evening on a Trinnacle-sized high, with memorable poems that left all audience members wanting more."
The evening over ran by half an hour, due to those naughty poets who exceeded their allocated 5 minutes! But no-one seemed to mind as we wrapped up warm to enter the cold Delph night air and wend our way home.
Watch this space for news of the next 'Words Among the Heather", early in the New Year.
LIST OF PERFORMERS ( In order of performance )
Carolyn Crossley aka🦊TheVixenOfVerse
Mike Rooke
Sandy Parkinson
Simon Attridge
Joan C Harthan
Lorraine Reynolds
James Lawton
Maralyn Tohill
Ian Mosley
Karen Jebbett ( Ren )
Kevin Wright
Keith Begley
Michael Neary
Pip Fowler
Cathy Crabb - Oldham's Writer in Residence
©jameslawtonpoet/🦊VixenOfVerse, 2024
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19PjKbgtEm/
@jameslawtonpoet /Instagram.
jameslawtonpoet?igsh=MTh5ZTVycDZlcXU1eg==
Reaper of Souls by Jo C Harthan
https://amzn.eu/d/74oBios
Beside the See-side by Cathy Crabb
https://amzn.eu/d/6Z9VJDQ
Carolyn Crossley
The Vixen Of Verse
VIXEN of VERSE 
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