A warm welcome from The Downland Poets

A warm welcome from The Downland Poets. We are a county poetry group, for residents in East and West Sussex.

Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Downland Poets Newsletter - September 2024

 A big thank you to all who supported our Hailsham Festival event, earlier this month.  It was very encouraging to have so many poets sharing their poems and also reading the poetry of those who could not attend.  We had a very receptive audience and lots of participation in the open mic session. 

This year, the EBJ competition was adjudicated by Kevin Scully who was the Poet in Residence to the Cuckmere Pilgrim Path 2022 to 2023.  A big thank you to Kevin for judging our entries and also to his wife, Adey, for reading some of our poems. We all know that it is the taking part that is important but the winning is pretty significant too. Congratulations to all of our winners. 


Commended:

Acrostic, Three Women by Hilary.

This Room is Full by John.

Nineteen by Hilary. 


Highly Commended:  Luxembourg Nights by Peter. 

3rd Prize: And Once Like Pirates by Peter. 

2nd Prize: In the Footsteps of St James by Peter.

1st Prize:   Imagination by Chris Rawls. 


As well as presenting the winners with their certificates and cups, Kevin spoke about his views on poetry sharing what works well and thoughts on how to improve our poems.  How doe we know when it is finished? Endings are tricky, what do we want them to achieve. 

Kevin shared some sources of support and guidance:

Online resources The Poetry Bath and Poetry Unbound. 

The Verve Poetry Press. 

BBC Radio 4 Poetry Please and Poetry Extra. 


Maybe you have a poetry resource that inspires you that you would like to share with other members of the group?  Bring details along to our next meeting. 

Kevin was keen to encourage us to explore poetry workshopping which is focused on getting feedback on our poems in a safe, non-judgemental manner.  Sue has done a bit of research on this and has a few ideas to share at our next meeting, if members are interested in giving this a go at a later date.  She also has a great idea as a warm-up activity to get us in the mood and laughing, which is always good for us.

Best wishes to all.  

Tuesday, 12 March 2024

 Meetings for 2024

17 January: AGM, plus poems relating to the Turner Exhibition displays at the Towner Art Gallery.

20 March: Theme: Shapes and Shadows. 

17 April: Theme: Black and White.

15 May: Theme: Night Skies.

19 June: Theme: Solstice.

July [date/venue TBC] - sociable outdoor meeting on a Saturday. Theme: Poem from a character or book.

 18 September: Results of the EBJ poetry competition, and theme: Free Choice.

16 October: Theme:  Birth/Berth. 

20 November: Theme: Through a/my window.

December: Christmas Lunch, details to be arranged. 


All meetings are the third Wednesday in the month at Hampden Park Bowling Club, Eastbourne, unless otherwise stated. Meetings start at 6.30pm.

Tuesday, 2 March 2021

100th Edition of Downlander


The 100th edition of The Downlander is available to purchase for £4 per copy.

 All proceeds will go to the society. Please contact us if you would like to purchase a copy: downlandpoets@gmail.com

With best wishes from the Downland Poets. 

Sunday, 31 January 2021

Meetings for 2021

 PLEASE NOTE: ALL MEETINGS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS. 


* * *  SENDING YOU GOOD WISHES FROM  THE DOWNLAND POETS.  STAY SAFE.  STAY AT HOME. * * *

Monday, 30 March 2020

Meetings cancelled/postponed

PLEASE NOTE: ALL MEETINGS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS. 

* * *  STAY SAFE.  STAY AT HOME. * * *




Tuesday, 8 August 2017

POETRY and MUSIC in the GARDEN

POETRY and MUSIC in the GARDEN
15th August, 2 - 4:30pm. £5 per person. Refreshments available.

An informal afternoon of original poetry and music written and hosted by The Downland Poets together with The High Weald Poets. Music will be provided by The Keith Willson Band.
A Sussex theme will prevail and there should be time during this creative and original afternoon for some open mic offerings.  Marquee cover.

Full details on the website: http://www.pickhams.com/summer-trifle.html  

Friday, 19 August 2016

Poetry Cafe Event - White Horse Inn on Wednesday 24th August, 2.30pm - 5pm.

Little Arts Festival on Rushlake Green 19 - 28 August

The Poetry Cafe Event will be taking place at White Horse Inn on Wednesday 24th August, 2.30pm - 5pm.


The Downnland Poets will be reading and discussing their work, with live folk music and original contributions from Chris Liddiard and James Neilson Graham.There will also be an open mic. for local poets of all ages.

The poetic theme will be predominately Sussex (places - past and present) but other themes welcome.

Come along and have fun!


Venue details: The White Horse Inn, Bodle Street Green, BN27 4RE

Sunday, 11 October 2015

Ted Hughes Documentary

This is an interesting documentary about Ted Hughes on BBC iplayer:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06j7pkl/ted-hughes-stronger-than-death

Monday, 6 April 2015

Celebration Meeting

Our next meeting is on Monday 13th April.  Happy 40th birthday to The Downland Poets.

Thursday, 4 April 2013

Poetry Reading Event: Tuesday 9th April

We will be reading poetry at Callenders, 80-82 Hailsham High Street on Tuesday 9th April from 2.30 pm.

Free entry, all welcome.  There will be time at the end to read a poem if you wish to bring one along.

Monday, 1 October 2012

National Poetry Day - Thursday 4th October

We will be reading some poems at Eastbourne Library on Thursday 4th October, from 7pm - 9pm. 

The theme is Four Ages of Life (childhood, adolescence, maturity, retirement), and the work read will be a combination of well known poems and our own. 

Entrance is £3 and includes a tea or coffee:

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/whatson/event.aspx?event=7018043

Thursday, 9 August 2012

Hailsham Arts Festival 2012

We will be involved with the Hailsham Arts Festival again this year on Tuesday 11th September.

Poets Corner will be held at Callenders Restaurant in Hailsham, from 2.30pm - 4.30pm.

The theme is 'A Sense of Place' and you are invited to bring your own poem. Free Entry.