We are gaining recognition as a lively part of the arts scene. Check the article I wrote for Ipswich Arts Magazine " Images" drawing attention to our wonderful cafes and reading groups not to mention my pleasure in a sticky cake, cappuccino and good company. The first of my articles can be found in the magazine or online at http://www.ipswich-arts.org.uk/2008/images_october2011_p4.php

Ian Griffiths

Telling the soul’s tales

Judy Gahagan and Suffolk Poetry Society

Othona is a magical place at the very north of the Dengie Peninsula, Essex. It is not only magical because of the ancient Roman Fort (3rd Century) and the Saxon Chapel of St Peter, founded in 654 by Saint Cedd. It is not only magical for its rare birds, (Short toed tree creeper, Marsh warbler), its mammals, (the Otter and Brown hare), and its flora (Sea barley, Sea Kale and Golden Samphire). Othona is also magical because of its basic accommodation, which still makes me smile, its fabulous staff and the wonderful time we all had together, including the time when we all watched a full rainbow stretch across the sky.

But what about the poetry?

We had a very pleasant afternoon at the Priory, Stoke-by-Nayland at the kind invitation of Mr. Henry and Mrs. Victoria Engelheart.

Our guest was Hugh Thomson, explorer, film maker, poet and author of at least four travel books.

 Listening to Hugh was a fascinating experience as he took us to such a variety of places across the world and opened them up with rich descriptions which made one want to visit the country, showing a love for the places he had visited, lightened with humourous incidents.

Frieda Hughes - the daughter of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath will be in Cambridge at Anglia Ruskin University on Saturday 29th October 2011 at 2pm. She is an important poet and gifted artist who has spent much of her life in outback Australia. She will introducing her poetry at the start of an exhibition of her paintings. The event is free. 

We struggled through rain and flooded roads to Iken on Saturday 16^th July, 2011 for an afternoon and evening of poetry with Christopher Reid, organised by Fred Ellis for Suffolk Poetry society.

Real thanks to everyone who came, read, sang, clapped, made cakes, ate cakes, moved chairs -- we certainly broke the silence of the Meeting House on Saturday!

The Chairman and especially the Treasurer were very happy - we more than covered our costs!

What  variety! I think I enjoyed the dialect poems best and some of the music. But I should like your views!

If we have another event on similar lines (say next year) what would you like to see?

On the 10th April 2010 George Szirtes visited us at the Friends Meeting House in Bury St Edmunds.

He gave us an insight into his life and read the poems he had written through the years to illustrate it.

A memorable evening.