Poet David Morley will read from his latest Forward shortlisted collection FURY, and talk about how he has been inspired by John Clare. To book on Zoom, please email cjcs@english.cam.ac.uk
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Online symposium, 5-7pm, Thursday, 19 November 2020

An online symposium to celebrate the recent publication of Palgrave Advances in John Clare Studies, edited by Simon Kövesi and Erin Lafford, will be held on Thursday, 19 November between 17:00 and 19:00 GMT.
The symposium is free to all, and will feature panels of short 5 minute talks from the authors in the collection, followed by questions and answers.
Registered attendees will receive a 20% discount code to purchase the collection.
To register go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/advances-in-john-clare-studies-launch-symposium-tickets-127438218141
BBC radio programmes on Clare which you can catch online
All sorts of stuff on John Clare online, as listed below (click on the links):
BBC World Service (1991) ‘Omnibus: John Clare’
Ted Hughes reads John Clare ‘Nightingale’s Nest’, Westminster Abbey (1993)
BBC Radio 4 Programme (2004) ‘Open Country’
BBC Radio 4 Programme (2008) ‘John Clare The Lament of Swordy Well’
BBC Radio 4 Programme (2018) ‘In Our Time: John Clare’
BBC Radio 4 (2015) ‘Great Lives: John Clare’
Happy listening!
Wednesday 27 Feb 2019
John Clare Symposium at The Judith E Wilson Theatre, Faculty of English, 9 West Road, Cambridge. John Clare and Song: exploring the relationship between Clare’s poetry, song and music. 10.45 to 3.30. Contact mg473@cam.ac.uk
Tues 26 Feb Centre for John Clare Studies discussion group
The February meeting will take place on Tuesday 26 Feb, 1 – 2 pm, with discussion led by Stephanie Kuduk Weiner on representations of agricultural labour. All welcome. http://www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/johnclare/
Tues 29 Jan Centre for John Clare Studies discussion group
The next meeting of the discussion group will take place on 29 January, 1 – 2 pm, in the Board Room (lst floor), Faculty of English, 9 West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DP. Paul Chirico will introduce his current research on Clare in the 19th c press.
The 2019 John Clare Society Festival: 12 – 14 July
Plans for this are well underway – so, watch this space! In the meantime, put the dates in your diary.
Saturday 8 December 2 – 5pm in Folkstone
Jess Potter and Copy Press invite you to an afternoon of readings born from encounters between writing and the poetry of John Clare. At Strange Cargo, The Factory, Folkstone. For further detail, go to https://gallery.mailchimp.com/7e59bdcb2ef74b2d29cfb65dc/files/28bf8d1f-5c29-467f-86a2-c00ec2e22c06/R_R_FINAL_INVITE.pdf
Carry Akroyd – 2019 calendar and Tweet of the Day
If you go to Carry’s website (https://www.carryakroyd.co.uk), you find details of her Bird of the Month Calendar for 2019 – and if you go to the BBC website and type in Tweet of the Day, you’ll find a series of short radio 4 episodes by Carry.
Talk by Simon Kovesi June 2019
The Byron Society is holding a lecture at the Art Workers Guild, London, from 6.30 to 8pm, 27 June 2019. £7 for non-members. Professor Simon Kovesi on ‘Lord Byron, poh! the man wot writes the werses?: John Clare’s flights of fame with Byron’. All welcome. For more detail, visit http://www.thebyronsociety.com/lord-byron-poh-the-man-wot-writes-the-werses-john-clares-flights-of-fame-with-byron
National Poetry Day 4 October 2018
Bring your John Clare Poem. A reading of John Clare’s poetry. Guest speakers. On Thursday 4 October at 7 pm in the Guildhall Courtyard by the John Clare statue in Northampton.
Walk with John Clare 21 October 2018
An autumn walk with John Clare, on Sunday 21 October. A 5 mile circular walk around Swaddywell Pit Nature Reserve and into Castor Hanglands, led by Carry Akroyd (John Clare Society President) and David Cowcill (Langdyke Trust). Starts at Swaddywell Pit carpark and finishes at Willowbrook Farm at around 3pm
Programme includes a snapshot of John Clare’s life and works, with readings appropriate to the places visited and to the countryside he knew and loved, as well as a cream tea at the Willowbrook Farm. £6 per person, payable on the day. Places limited so booking will first come first served. Contact Simon at sby121@btinternet.com or 01733 253164.
Tennyson/Clare talk on 20 October
The Lincolnshire Landscape through the Eyes of Alfred Lord Tennyson and John Clare, a talk by Mark Seaward, at 2.30pm at Franklin Hall, Spilsby, Lincs. Tickets at the door – £5 including refreshments.
As part of the Wolds Words Festival, Professor Mark Seaward is giving a talk examining the connection between poet and landscape. Works by both Tennyson and Clare make extensive use of their knowledge and understanding of the natural world. This is a chance to gain an insight and understanding of the landscape in which both poets lived, wrote and worked.
More information: spiritofsutterby@gmail.com
Friday 14 September – Langdyke Trust Annual Meeting
At West Deeping Village Hall, 7pm.
Saturday 8 September – Langdyke Trust event
10am to 4pm. Visit Torpel Field as part of Peterborough Heritage Open Days. For detail visit https://www.peterboroughcivicsociety.org.uk/doc/HOD2018.pdf
‘I Am John Clare’ dramatic performance
On Thursday 11 October, starting 7.30pm, a solo performance drama, 50 minutes approx, followed by Q&A, in conjunction with Theatre 17. At John Clare Cottage in Helpston, near Peterborough. Written and produced by Stephen Loveless and acted by Robin Hillman. There is a licensed bar for refreshments, and the tickets (£5 per head) can be reserved by contacting the Cottage, via www.clarecottage.org
30 June Langdyke Trust open day at Swaddywell Pit
From 2pm to 5pm. Attractions for all ages and interests. Use the main carpark off the Marholm to Ufford Road and on the right after passing through the Stamford Stone entrance.
27 June guided walk at Barnack Hills and Holes
Natural England are holding this walk, to see the glow worms. Meet at the main carpark (off the Wittering Road) at 9.30pm. To book, phone 07796 645935.
24 June, a midsummer afternoon in the Wye Valley
At 3.30pm in All Saints Church, Brockhampton, a concert: John Clare – Nature, Glory and Tragedy. Tea and cakes in the Parish Hall after the concert, followed by a short guided walk to the top of Capler Hill. Detail at https://gallery.mailchimp.com/7e59bdcb2ef74b2d29cfb65dc/files/afc10b9d-b3c7-46c2-a728-f6de45a5d963/John_Clare_Brockhampton_Church_Flyer_180520.pdf
Meeting of the Centre for John Clare Studies discussion group
The next meeting takes place on Tuesday 22 May, 1 – 2pm, in the Board Room of the Faculty of English, 9 West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DP.
Clare Jones will give a paper on ‘Monet’s Waterlilies and John Clare’s Burden: Water, Repetition and Flow’.
All are very welcome. Please bring your own lunch. Drinks are provided.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 19 June and the speaker will be George Deakin (folk singer and author of ‘John Clare and the Folk Tradition’).