On Wednesday, 13th October, at 7.30pm British Summer Time, I’ll be one of the two guest readers (the other is Maggie Sawkins) at the launch of Greg Freeman’s collection, Marples Must Go!, published by Dempsey and Windle.
I admire Greg’s poetry very much, and admire him as someone who does a great deal of good for the poetry community. His poetic and geographical milieu is similar to mine – he grew up in a road where my dad and grandparents also lived for a few years, near Surbiton Lagoon, and he went to the secondary school opposite the one I went to, a few years apart!
I wrote an endorsement for Greg’s book, as follows:
The sharp, entertaining poems in Marples Must Go! encompass a cornucopia of themes – first love, music, the newspaper trade, cycling, am-dram and holidays – but also the corruption, pigheadedness and racism of politicians, past and present, intent on ‘making mugs of us all’. In this richly enjoyable collection, Greg Freeman celebrates the best – and skewers the worst – of England.
Really looking forward to it
Matthew, can’t make it as I have a ‘live’ launch – but very sorry to miss it.
Thanks, Lizzie.
Thanks for the heads up Paul. Unfortunately, I’m languishing in a care home rehabilitating after a hospital stay with a broken femur. However, you’ve reminded me I meant to buy the book after I heard Greg read some of the poems at an open mic. Time to carry out the intention.
Best wishes Rod
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Hello Rod. I’m very sorry to hear that and I hope you heal up quickly. All the best, Matthew