Pictured - a collection of eccentric Harbour Poets and guest readers on National Poetry Day - October 8th. Harbour poets read from ‘Essential Journey’ and other work, with the occasional nod to the theme of ‘Heros and Heroines’.   Two visitors, Doug and Milly, charmed readers with their self-penned verse.

Picture by Paul Crompton of  ‘View from Weymouth ‘ newspaper

A ragtaggle collection of poets braved the weather again.  Some clambered aboard the ‘Portisham’, a 1957 minesweeper, for a photoshoot by photographer Carole Voisey-Morris.  Later they were interviewed over tea and cakes by newsman Dom Kippin.

The Harbour Poets’ anthology ‘Essential Journey’ was published on July 7th.  It was reviewed by Bridget Whelan, author of ‘A Good Confession‘, who said it had:  ‘a wonderful, vibrant variety - poems written with gentle good humour play with words and others, with angry precision, scythe through hypocrisy…’  The first print run of the book sold out in two weeks, and it is now being reprinted.  Get yours here:

Buy Essential Journey

Harbour Poets John Kemp and Ged Duncan will be reading at ‘Poetry Please’ at the Beaminster Festival.  Starts 7.30pm on 30th June at Beaminster Museum.  Tickets £6.  Click in the image for more details.

The proposed title of the Harbour Poets’ Anthology is ‘Essential Journey’.   On Feb 3rd 2009 schools, universities, offices, shops and councils across the UK were closed due to heavy snowfall and the public were urged to venture out only if their journey was absolutely necessary.  On that day there was a well attended meeting of Harbour Poets.  All agreed that Poetry was an Essential Journey.

Publisher Bardic Media Ltd will be producing an anthology of the work of Harbour Poets this summer.  Poets are currently selecting the poems they wish to be included.

The next meeting of Harbour Poets on Tuesday 7th April, 2pm in the Mulberry Room, Weymouth Library.