ALAN BYFORD'S TALK

On 16th April Harrogate Writers’ Circle was pleased to welcome Alan Byford, the well known Norfolk poet and writer to discuss the life and work of his erstwhile friend and neighbour, the poet, Edmund Blunden. Alan explained that he had come to know Blunden in the latter years of his life when he lived close to Blunden’s home in Suffolk. Edmund Blunden is perhaps one of the least well known poets of WWI despite having served on the western front for longer than any of the better known poets such as Sassoon or Wilfred Owen. Blunden suffered throughout his life from the after effects of that conflict with what would today be recognised s post-traumatic stress disorder. The war in the trenches was a recurrent theme in his work from 1914 to 1966 and over this period he wrote 164 war poems. Friends related that Edmund spent his life in ceaseless mourning for the dead and struggling with the guilt of having survived. His autobiography “Undertones of War” published in 1928 has never been out of print but it is a measure of the modesty of the man that the book makes no reference to the Military Cross he was awarded in 1916.

Blunden’s other theme, about which he was no less passionate was the Kent and Sussex countryside where he grew up. He was particularly attached to the village of Yalding in Kent where he spent a large part of his childhood and about which he has written about 80 poems.

If you would like to showcase your work, or just want to listen to contemporary writing why not join us. Guests are always welcome. We meet at Community House, 46/60, East Parade, Harrogate. For more information telephone 01423-500598 or visit our website at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/harrogatewriters to see details of future events and some work by Circle members.