Jeremy Mitchell, Author at The Edward Thomas Fellowship

2020 Birthday Walk POSTPONED

Published by Jeremy Mitchell on 26th February 2020

It is with great regret that we have decided to postpone the annual Edward Thomas Birthday Walk, due to take place this Sunday, 1st March, owing to ground conditions, tree damage on the Hangers and concerns for participants safety on what will undoubtedly be difficult terrain.

This will also mean postponement of the Fellowship’s AGM scheduled to take place in the afternoon.

Both events will be rearranged to a date either in early April or early May and please keep a look out for a notice here or on our Facebook page.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this decision may have caused you.

…

Edward Cawston Thomas Poetry Competition 2020 winning poems

Published by Jeremy Mitchell on 11th February 2020

The winning poems have now been announced by our judge, Jane Draycott, whose report may be read by following the link at the foot of this page.

The winning poem is ‘The Reader’ by Sue Davies.

The joint second prizes go to Elena Croitoru for her poem ‘Playground’ and to Jo Peters for her poem ‘snowfall’.

Poems by

James Driver, Peter Challis, Karin van Heerden, Laura Potts, Virginia Astley and Wendy Manning were all Highly Commended.

To read the prize-winning poems please follow this link Edward Cawston Thomas Poetry Competition 2020 winning poems

You can now read Jane’s report by following this link – Edward Thomas Fellowship Poetry Competition 2020 – Judge’s Report_JDraycott…

A Nest of Singing Birds – an anthology of poems from The Edward Thomas Fellowship

A Nest of Singing Birds – an anthology of poems from The Edward Thomas Fellowship

Published by Jeremy Mitchell on 21st August 2019

The Fellowship has produced this very attractive anthology of winning poems from the last three years Poetry Competition, including the enlightening Judges’ reports.

Many of the poems show that they have learned from Thomas. £5.00, £1.50 p&p.

Fellowship members can buy from the Membership Secretary, david_kerslake@hotmail.com while others should email margthompson01@gmail.com . Both will take orders and give information about payment methods.

eNews Note 02 – May 2019

Published by Jeremy Mitchell on 5th June 2019

In this note:

- An article about the Friends of Steep Church and the work they have paid for to protect the Memorial Windows in Steep Church
- News of a Poetry event in Portsmouth in June that will feature a talk about Edward Thomas
- An opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Edward Thomas in July
- An update about the joint Edward Thomas Fellowship / John Clare Society Study Day in September
- A note about the Friends of the Dymock Poets Autumn Weekend in October
- Ben Mackay is looking for volunteers to ‘trial’ his “In Pursuit of Spring” Walks
- A copy of the draft minutes from this year’s AGM
- And finally a 2020 date for your diary

Welcome to the second eNewsnote, which is intended to keep members of the Fellowship up to date with forthcoming events (which will also be featured on the Fellowship’s website) and other news that may be of interest.…

2019 Poetry Competition Winner’s Announced

Published by Jeremy Mitchell on 11th February 2019

Edward Thomas Fellowship’s annual Poetry Competition was initiated and endowed by the poet’s grandson Edward Cawston Thomas.

Now in its fourth year there has been an excellent response with over three hundred poems entered, most of them being of a high standard. Judged by the prize-winning poet and reviewer Jane Draycott the competition is now, we’re told, seen as a serious and prestigious one.

The 1st prize was won by Maggie Davison of Hexham, Northumberland for her poem, ‘Jacket’.

The two joint prize-winners are Richard Meier and Oliver Comins for ‘Faculties’ and ‘Winter Search’.

The six Highly Commended poets are Alyss Dye, Lindsay Rossdale, Helen Boyles, James Driver, Mark Fiddes and Tista Austin.…

Celebrate Edward Thomas’s Birthday by Joining The Birthday Walk

Published by Jeremy Mitchell on 1st February 2019

Edward Thomas was born in Lambeth on 3rd March 1878 and served, and died, in World War 1. He was a literary critic and country writer who came late to writing poetry, now being one of the War Poets commemorated in Westminster Abbey.

Thomas was encouraged by American poet Robert Frost, after they met in 1913, to write poetry and verse. He and Helen had moved to Steep, just outside Petersfield, in 1906 where they lived in three different houses around the village. Edward drew inspiration to write his poems from the beautiful Hampshire countryside which surrounds Steep.

The Birthday Walk, this year held on the Sunday 3rd March 2019, retraces the life of Edward Thomas and shares collected poems and prose of his work.…

New Website Launched

Published by Jeremy Mitchell on 3rd January 2019

Website Launched 2019.…

Words

Published by Jeremy Mitchell on 2nd October 2018

Out of us all
That make rhymes,
Will you choose
Sometimes —
As the winds use
A crack in a wall
Or a drain,
Their joy or their pain
To whistle through —
Choose me,
You English words?

I know you:
You are light as dreams,
Tough as oak,
Precious as gold,
As poppies and corn,
Or an old cloak:
Sweet as our birds
To the ear,
As the burnet rose
In the heat
Of Midsummer:
Strange as the races
Of dead and unborn:
Strange and sweet
Equally,
And familiar,
To the eye,
As the dearest faces
That a man knows,
And as lost homes are:
But though older far
Than oldest yew, —
As our hills are, old, —
Worn new
Again and again:
Young as our streams
After rain:
And as dear
As the earth which you prove
That we love.…

Author: Jeremy Mitchell