I myself have had the pleasure of being their featured poet in October 2019, so I’m really excited to be sharing details of their opening event, as Wisbech Words returns in January 2020.

This time, their featured performer is the internationally renowned poet John Lyons.

Born in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, John now resides in the Cambridgeshire Fens. He is a recipient of both the Windrush Arts Achiever award and the Peterloo Poetry prize.

He has a number of published collections, including the CliPPA shortlisted ‘Dancing in the Rain’ – a collection of poems for children, and ‘A Carib Being in Cymru’.

John, who describes his poetry as “the discovery of possibilities in language to express my encounter, through the senses” is also a painter.

Educated at Goldsmiths College School of Art in London, he is a co-founder of the Hourglass Studio Gallery and a founder member of CAM (Cambridge Arts Movement). You can find out more on his website.

The event as ever is hosted by Elisabeth Sennitt Clough.

Herself a published poet of several collections including ‘At or Below Sea Level’ described by Rebecca Goss as ‘work of rich darkness’ – It is a recommended publication of the Poetry Book Society and a poem from the book won the 2018 Shooter Literary Magazine Poetry Prize.

Again, there is a website with more details.

Wisbech Words returns in January 2020 on the 16th, starting at 7pm. It’s at Wisbech Castle, Museum Square 1-2 The Crescent, Wisbech, PE13 1ES. Wisbech Words is part of the Fenland Arts Development Scheme and is supported by the Arts Council England. Picture credit: Fenland Arts Development Scheme