Meet at the Fort Car Park at 11.30 .  Then, a shortish walk of about one and a half miles around the fort and down to the river.  There is much to see and read (information boards are very good).  The site is quite inspirational.

Walkers/workshoppers should arrive at The Fisherman’s Inn between 12.30 and Ipm.  The Inn serve good and reasonably priced food.

 The poetry workshop is to be conducted by Joanna Guthrie and will take place at the pub from 2pm until 4pm.  Poems produced will be laminated and put on display along a longer walk which will take place in September and will take in more of Breydon Water.

Wheelchair access from the Fort to the Fisherman’s Inn is difficult.  This could be overcome by any wheelchair user returning to the car park and then driving via the road to The Fisherman’s Inn, instead of taking the narrow footpath along the river bank..

 The cost for the workshop is £18.     For more information and to book your place email Janet Wright janetggv@yahoo.co.uk

On Saturday 11th February Urban Fusian and the Seagull Theatre will present Open Urban Slam Night, a night of urban music, dance and poetry.  Based around the open mic format, with a DJ to start and end the night, it costs only two pounds to attend as a spectator, performer or both!! Due to expercted demand people need to email (see email address below) the theatre to secure their performance slots. 

On Frday 16th March, Cameraman: The life and Work of Jack Cardiff celebrates the life and work of this unique figure in British and international cinema, a legendry man from Great Yarmouth  whose career spans an incredible nine decades of cinema history. 

On Sunday 26th February and Sunday 8th April the Seagull will be holding evenings of  poetry and songs performed by local writiers and musicians.  If  you would like to take part in this event contact Ian Fosten on 07791 068080 or mail to ian@fosten.com.

That’s just a small selection of an excellent and varied programme of drama, music, dance, cinema, and talks - for more information and to see what else is on click here.  Why not join the mailing list to keep informed? email to  info@theseagull.co.uk

The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, Lowestoft, NR33 0JH
www.theseagull.co.uk
BOX OFFICE 01502 589726

Local poets and painters converse in words and images 

We begin with a lunch of homemade and filling winter vegetable soup with homemade bread and cake/fruit and tea to follow. Local poets and artists will then present a response to each other’s work in words and images.

Cost £6. Please book with Ian Fosten at ian@fosten.com   or 0779 106 8080

Ferini Art Gallery 27 – 29 All Saints Road, Pakefield, Lowestoft NR33 0JL

2nd place  Susan Wooden

3rd place   Tamara Minns

The poems have been judged by Rupert Mallin.  There will be an award ceremony of trophy cup and three framed certificates on 13th Oct at 1.30pm , taking place at the group’s usual venue, ie; Newtown Methodist church hall , Northgate Street, Great Yarmouth.

Results are as follows;    “The Dance of Life”.

!st place  Heather Smith

2nd place  Susan Wooden

3rd place  Tamara Minns

1st prize Tamara Minns

ENIGMA

The sea was spawned before time began,

Long before God blue-printed man

No greed, no poison, no manic wars

Just moonlight shadows on virgin shores

Men of learning throughout history

Have marvelled at its mystery

Searching for answers till their demise

Of a roaring monster in disguise

The mayflower fathers prayed the sea

Would sail them to religious liberty

When they turned their backs on a divided realm,

They knew their God was at the helm.

Sailor there’s no need to pray

The sea won’t heed a word you say.

No songs of praise sung on the quay

Can quell it’s thirsty savagery

Sometimes friend, more times foe

Heaven determines which way it shall flow.

Mother wash those tears away

Your boy would have it no other way

Will the sea remain when time has gone?

Yes mankind is weak, the sea is strong.

2nd prize Sue Ellis

HAIL THE SEA

Hail to the sea, all Mighty, all Powerful,

I salute you!

In awe of your splendour

I bow to thee.

Your beauty, your vastness, and magnificence,

Have inspired many to write reams.

Yet, you hide secrets.

In your deep waters many creatures call their home

Plant life with splendid colourful beauty

Hails another world.

An underwater wonderland is there to be discovered.

If I delve beneath your surface

Breaking through

the calm stillness of your glassy waters,

Dive downward into darkness

Lit only from above with rays of sunlight

That penetrate,

Your depths.

I’ll uncover your secrets.

Secrets

of that other world

Hidden from view.

Yet beware!

Danger lurks.

Your currents can turn,

your mood change

You can refuse to welcome intruders

rebelling from prying eyes

In your fury you can rise up unexpectedly,

Sucking innocent crafts into your towering waves

Destroying all in your rage.

You have my respect

Oh mighty sea

One day you could engulf our lands

And rule the world.

3rd prize Charles Huggett

Waves

In angry turmoil, seas crash and thunder

Water torn, white and ragged

Tops exploding, blown asunder,

Violent crests, sharp and jagged,

Onwards thrusting to the land

To crush it, mark it, with their brand.

Surging, rolling, undulating

Waves rise and swell in endless charging

Like ranks of cavalry unabating

Constantly contracting and enlarging

Desperately spending force to reach

That once distant, nearing beach.

Lapping gently on silken shore

Lazily running, they slide and slither

Softly now, with little bore

They procrastinate and dither

Pausing briefly to kiss the strand

And roll small pebbles on the sand.

A mystery too deep to fathom

Waters just as old as time

Flood and ebb in constant rhythm

Unceasing majestic and sublime

In all its moods uncomprehending

The sea must roll, it’s task unending.

Further news, One of our members Susan Wooden has been chosen as a runner up in the poetry competition to commemorate Herring Day. Her poem will be read out on Sunday Oct 18th at the celebration at the Time and Tide museum. Well done Susan.

Local people were invited to make a contribution to the Time and Tide Museum by submitting a short poem about the humble herring for National Poetry Day on the 8^th October.   The winning  poem is reproduced on the new text panel for the  iconic Yarmouth Bloater King sign (see image)  unveiled at Time and Tide’s annual Herring Day on Sunday October 18^th . Entries were judged by published Norfolk based poet Esther Morgan.

Winner of the Read Herrings poetry competition for Herring Day 2009:

My Silver Darling

By Charles Huggett

Skin tanned and burned by the keen east blow

Burnished rosy cheeks shine and glow

Back complaining and feet sore

Hands chapped bleeding red and raw

Still you can laugh and share a smile

Although you know in a little while

The next herring catch will land

So you stand ready knife in hand

To gut and wash the silver throng

And so you work all day long.

Your clothes are coated in silver scales

And glitter my eye assails.

Like sequins on a fine ball gown

Or diamonds set in a royal crown.

Transformed from dull and dowdy starling

To my shiny glistening silver darling.

But no ball will glimpse her sparkling clothes

Just a small dark pub in the Yarmouth rows!

The Bloater King in person

There is a small charge of 50p for tea or coffee and a yearly subscription of £5.

The group has been active since 1999 and at present has 14 members of mixed ages. Our purpose for meeting up is to motivate each other in writing poetry, prose, short stories, monologues and plays.

And sharing them with the group. For further information please phone the secretary on 01493 857956