Philip Pullen – The Philip Larkin Society

Andrew Eastwood

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of former PLS
Committee member, Andrew Eastwood. Andrew was the Society’s General
Secretary for fourteen years, taking over from Belinda Hakes in 2004 and
stepping down from the role in 2019. As James Booth noted in his
Editorial for issue 47 of ‘About Larkin’: Andrew’s ‘entertaining
summaries of the years’ events at AGMs will be long remembered’; but he
will also be remembered for an impromptu performance at the Garden Party
at 105 Newland Park in July 2004 in which he ‘revealed a remarkably fine
tenor voice’.

Drawing the raffle at a PLS event.

Andrew was born in Lancashire in 1952, and attended Audenshaw Grammar
School. His funeral service will take place at Dunkinfield
Crematorium on Thursday 15 February 2024.

https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/eastwood/5171941.

THE PLS PUB QUIZ

This year’s annual commemoration of the anniversary of Larkin’s death was a little different. After last year’s multi-centred ceremonial occasion which featured the unveiling of a Larkin bench in Spring Bank Cemetery in Hull, a blue plaque at Larkin’s birthplace in Coventry and an event in Poets’ Corner, Westminster Abbey, we decided to take a more informal route by holding a pub quiz at the Howarth in Hull, a favourite haunt of Larkin himself. Despite his infamous dislike of Christmas, we think he might have enjoyed some of it at least, and most definitely ended up on the winning team!

PLS Chair, Professor Graham Chesters, welcomes the participants.

PLS Honorary Vice President, the Right Honourable Alan Johnson, was a superb quiz master and we were very pleased to welcome our President, Rosie Millard, who travelled up from London for the day. All in all, it proved to be a highly enjoyable afternoon spent in convivial company.

Our esteemed Quizmaster, complete with Christmas jumper.

Ready to start.

The winners.

If you’d like to listen to the whole quiz and play along check out the latest ‘Tiny In All That Air’ podcast.

Here are the questions,

And the answers.

With special thanks to The Haworth, 449 Beverley Road, Hull, HU6 7LD for being such excellent hosts.

Forthcoming Events

The Philip Larkin Society AGM and Annual Distinguished Guest Lecture 2024 will be held in Oxford on Saturday 8th June. More details to follow.

A fountain restored

Residents in the avenues area of Hull have been campaigning for many years for the reinstatement of a working fountain on the junction of Victoria Avenue and Salisbury Street and on Saturday 8th July 2023 they achieved their goal when a replacement fountain, crafted specially to echo the original, was switched on in front of a large crowd of residents and supporters.

Until her death in 2011, Jean Hartley, a close friend and publisher of Philip Larkin, had been a prominent member of the campaign group and had proposed that the new fountain should carry these lines from Larkin’s poem, ‘Water’.

‘If I were called in
To construct a religion
I should make use of water’

The switch-on ceremony included a poetry reading by Professor Graham Chesters, Chair of The Philip Larkin Society, and a short speech by the local Member of Parliament, The Right Honourable, Dame Diana Johnson. On a day when the heavens opened, the Dagger Lane Singers bravely fought their way through what was, on more than one level, a most appropriate composition – ‘We Won’t Give Up’.

Local artist, Jackie Ward-Lomax, who played such a massive part in the fund-raising scheme, was given the privilege of pressing the button that made the waters flow again after more than 100 years.

Video coverage of the switching on ceremony can be found on our YouTube channel or by clicking here

For more information about the Victoria Road Fountain and the campaign to reinstall it see:

https://victoriafountain.org

Philip Larkin comes to Beverley

Things are building up nicely for what is turning out to be a mini Larkin festival in Beverley, East Yorkshire, a town that meant a lot to Larkin. The events are centred around the first ever Larkin inspired exhibition at Beverley Art Gallery featuring the work of Seoul-based artists Yeonkyoung Lee and Sam Robinson.

‘Home Is So Sad’ draws on a longstanding interest in the life and work of Philip Larkin, the idea of ‘home’ as a fluid concept and new research into East Riding’s cultural history. Alongside their work, the artists have selected pieces from the permanent collections of East Riding Museums and the Philip Larkin Society. Two of the paintings chosen were owned by Larkin, and one contains his image, but all could be said to share something of the tone of his poetry as it pertains to home.

For the duration of the exhibition, a further display of objects owned by or connected to Philip Larkin will be on display in the permanent gallery. The result of a collaboration with the Philip Larkin Society.

The exhibition runs from 1st April to 13th May and is free to attend.

On 14th April East Riding Theatre will be the venue for ‘A Joyous Shot’, an evening of Larkin-inspired words and music, featuring, Vicky Foster, Chris Sewart and the Mechanicals Band. Tickets cost £14 and are available to book online.

On Thursday 20th April at 10.00 AM there will be a guided walk of Philip Larkin’s Beverley. This is a free event but places must be booked via the Beverley Art Gallery, telephone 01482 392780.

On Saturday 22nd April, at 1.45 pm, the Treasure House in Beverley will be hosting two talks by the Philip Larkin Society. Philip Pullen, a Larkin Society Trustee and Chair of Larkin100 will be talking about Larkin’s relationship to the East Riding and what it meant to him. Graham Chesters, Chair of the Larkin Society will be giving a talk about Larkin’s art collection and will show how the pictures he purchased, the pictures he was given, the pictures he liked, all build up to a portrait of the poet-artist himself and his artistic taste. Tickets for the event cost £5 and are available via this link

Home Is So Sad

The Philip Larkin Society is delighted to be collaborating with the Beverley Art Gallery in East Yorkshire to produce what will be the first every Larkin Exhibition in the town.

Beverley was one of the first places Larkin visited after taking up his position as Librarian at Hull University in March 1955. It remained one of his favourite haunts for the rest of his life.

Home is So Sad presents newly commissioned paintings and installation art by Seoul-based artists Yeonkyoung Lee and Sam Robinson.

Their work reflects a long-standing interest in the life and work of Philip Larkin, the details of everyday life, and the idea of ‘home’ as a fluid concept.

Alongside this, the artists have selected pieces from the permanent collections of East Riding Museums and the Philip Larkin Society.

During the exhibition there is an additional display of Larkin artefacts on show in the red gallery.

Eddie Dawes

We announce the sad news that Eddie Dawes, our former Chairman, died on Friday 3rd March after having been admitted to hospital with pneumonia. His two sons were with him. He was 97.

An outstanding scientist, a national figure in the Magic Circle (and prolific writer on the history of magic) and the founding chairman of the Larkin Society, he had exceptional gifts that he wore lightly. For 25 years, he and Anthony Thwaite as President led the Society together with a sure and confident vision.

We will honour their memory.

A Sparkling Armada – the PLS Conference, University of Hull 8-9th December 2022

We had not organised a conference since 2019 with Covid creating so many barriers in the way. But as 2022 began, confidence in face to face events was now back, and we knew this would be a fantastic end to the Larkin100 year.

Kyra Piperides introduces the first panel

The two- day event was opened by teacher Alexandra Davis who took us through a fascinating project she is running with her students as part of her Masters studies- teaching Larkin on the ‘black market’ (as he is not on their current syllabus). This was a really joyful account of the pupils’ many and varied reactions to Larkin. It also set the tone and approach for the whole two days: a focus on teaching and disseminating Larkin’s work and a rigorous examination of the current context of Larkin’s work in the world of social media and changing attitudes to sexuality, race, religion and poetic endeavour. The range of topics covered during the course of the conference was outstanding: Larkin’s machinery, Larkin (not) doing National Service, new musical settings to Larkin’s verse and Larkin in Other Cultures to name a handful. We read and analysed Sad Steps and Ted Hughes’ The Thought Fox with Friday’s keynote speaker Suzanne Conway, and examined Larkin’s poetic and critical links to WH Auden, Stevie Smith and Andrew Marvell. A huge range of Larkin’s poems were discussed, as were his literary criticism and letters.

Professor Will May from the University of Southampton, presenting his talk on Philip Larkin and Stevie Smith

There was a fantastically convivial atmosphere throughout as attendees and speakers got to know each other. We all enjoyed the drinks reception in the Brynmor Jones Library’s outstanding art gallery, and many of us took the chance to enjoy a guided tour around the library and Larkin’s office.

Attendee Robert Black summed it up brilliantly when he wrote to say:
I had such a lovely time in Hull this week and wanted to thank you … for putting together a fascinating, entertaining and informative conference. I learned as I laughed which is always the best way.

Thursday’s key note speaker, Observer and New Statesman journalist Rachel Cooke, wrote this piece as a testament to how much she had enjoyed her time with us. We are already tentatively planning Conference 2023!

Lyn Lockwood

Latest Events

A recording of our fantastic 21st September online event featuring Rosie Millard in Conversation with Sir Andrew Motion is now available to view on our YouTube channel. Click here

A recording of Philip Pullen’s talk, ‘The Importance of Elsewhere’, produced for the Belfast International Arts Festival, is also now available to view on the BIAF YouTube channel as well as on the PLS YouTube channel

Talks given at joint conference with the Betjeman Society held in Leicester entitled ‘A Coming Together of Sorts: the collaborative adventures of John Betjeman and Philip Larkin’ can also be viewed on the PLS YouTube channel.

A final ‘High Tea and Poetry‘ afternoon will be held in the James Reckett Reading Room in Hull Central Library on 8th December. These have proved to be highly enjoyable afternoons spent in the glorious surroundings of Central Library’s James Reckitt Reading Room in the company of two of Hull’s best poets. Reading poems, telling stories and enjoying delicious food and drink. Places are limited for the final event and need to be booked via this link

December 2nd is going to be another massive day in the Centenary calendar, with events taking place in London, Coventry and Hull.

The annual commemorative PLS event on 2nd December, the day Larkin died in 1985, will this year take place in Westminster Abbey. Details are still being worked on. It will include Evensong and a short ceremony in Poets’ Corner and will include readings of poems. This event is now fully booked.

On the same day in Coventry, Larkin’s home city, a blue plaque will be unveiled at his birthplace, 2 Poultney Road by the Lord Mayor of Coventry. We are grateful to the Coventry Society for their tremendous support in helping us to achieve this long-standing goal. Following on from this, at 7.00 PM in Stoneleigh Church Sheila Wolf, a previous Head of English at Larkin’s school, King Henry VIII in Coventry, will be giving a talk on Larkin’s poetry which is free to attend. Full details can be found here.

In Hull, the 2nd December will see the launch of a very special Larkin installation at Hull Central Library curated by the film maker Zsolt Balogh. Zsolt’s installations for Hull2017 were real highlights of the City of Culture year and this new indoor installation promises to be something very special indeed and will run until 21st December.

Blake Morrison will be giving a talk about Larkin for ULEMLA – the University of London Extra-Mural Literature Association – at 11am on Saturday December 3rd, at the Crowndale Centre, 218 Eversholt Street, London, NW1 1BD (two minutes’ walk from the Mornington Crescent Northern Line tube). All welcome.

The PLS Conference, ‘Bad habits of expectancy’, will take place at the University of Hull on 8th -9th December. We are very pleased to host an academic conference which aims to present current thinking about Larkin and his contemporaries in a lively and interactive programme, including keynote speaker and leading Larkin commentator, Rachel Cooke. Full details can be found here.

And there is bound to be more! In fact, we are planning something very special during the final few months of the year. Be sure to keep a close eye on our website, Twitter and Instagram accounts for updates and announcements.

In addition, the new PLS YouTube Channel will continue to post content relating to various Larkin places, as well as recordings of some of the Larkin100 talks and lectures. We are hoping to upload a lot more video content generated by members and followers: we encourage contributions to be sent to us via the email address Larkin100.online@gmail.com.

Philip Pullen
Chair, Larkin100

New PLS Merchandise

It’s that time of year again, looking ahead to Christmas and New Year, and the PLS have just released two new excellent items for our online shop. Following on from the success of this year’s centenary wall calendar (which sold out), we have designed a charming A5 desk calendar to see you through 2023, in conjunction with our friends in Sheffield, Volta Creative. This time we celebrate the wonderful Larkin doodles taken from his letters, that reflect Larkin’s domestic concerns- from cutting down on the booze to dreading the next Budget- all things we can sympathise with still! Some of these have never been published before.

If you were a student back in the 1980s or 90s, you will surely remember Viz magazine- the Geordie institution that took a love of vintage ‘Beano’ style comics and brought them up to date with funny, often outrageous, jokes. Viz is still going strong today, and one of their long standing artists (and great Larkin fan) Davey Jones has kindly given us this image to turn into a high quality A4 print. Davey has never had his artwork used as merchandise before so we are very proud of this world exclusive! Perfect for an office wall or a stocking filler for a Larkin (or Viz) fan.

We still have the ever popular Christmas cards and snowy images of Larkin’s two Hull homes in Pearson Park and Newland Park, by Hull artist Tony Denison, as well as postcards, t-shirts, posters, tea towels, pencils and books. All purchases help support our charitable aims and are very much appreciated.
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A Larkin Day in Loughborough

The Philip Larkin Society, in conjunction with The University of Loughborough and local author and tour guide Lynne Dyer, are pleased to announce the first ever Larkin Day in Loughborough on Wednesday 2nd November.

Philip Larkin was a frequent visitor to Loughborough, where his mother and sister lived for over 27 years. The town also features as a backdrop in the many letters to each other.

The day will begin at 2.00 PM with a two hour guided walk led by Lynne Dyer and Philip Pullen. The walk will cover many of the places that would have been familiar to the Larkins, as well as places that have changed beyond recognition.

Meet outside the Charnwood Museum in Queen’s Park. For more details and to book a place please email lynneaboutloughborough@gmail.com

At 6.00 PM, PLS Trustee and Chair of Larkin100, Philip Pullen, will be giving an illustrated talk about Larkin’s relationship with his mother and the part the town played in her life.

Full details about the talk and booking arrangements can be found via this link.

‘Larkinworld 2’

Larkinworld 2 is the development of an exhibition by D J Roberts first shown at the National Poetry Library, London, in 2017 and now to be shown in Hull as part of the Larkin centenary celebrations.

Roberts writes:

‘As was the case in London, viewers may be surprised by its upbeat nature, by its urban, streetwise aesthetic. This is because my reaction to Larkin’s work has always been of a very specific type. Psychologically Larkin’s world may often be one of morbid obsession, but physically it is a world of bars and shopping malls and cinemas, and this is the world I identify with and enjoy being part of, this is the world that attracted me to his poetry in the first place.

No poet I know more powerfully evokes the ordinary everyday world around us, a world that can comfort, stimulate and excite. Nobody does train journeys better than Larkin, or urban edgelands, or hotels late at night. Nor do sharp shoes, iced lollies and Coke dispensers often get a mention in serious verse.

This is the world I have tried to explore in Larkinworld 2. It is not an elitist world – Larkin was not an elitist in many of his recreations and pleasures – but it’s the world we all live in, and no other major poet I can think of evokes it so vividly, so convincingly, and with such acceptance and affection.’

Larkinworld 2 will be on show in the Exhibition Hall of the Brynmor Jones Library, University of Hull from August 9th to September 25th 2022

Larkin Day

Three years in the making, a long and difficult journey through pandemic, lockdown and huge funding difficulties and we made it through. Larkin100 finally got off the ground, and it flies beautifully!

What a day we had! What a celebration! An amazing event at Hull Truck Theatre started the day in a perfect way, showing us just what Hull offers to poets and musicians and dancers, as a place to write, sing and perform. And then into the evening an inspired performance from the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage at the University’s Middleton Hall. A short stroll away, in the Brynmor Jones Library, ‘Larkinworld’ re-established itself in the in the form of D J Roberts’ wonderful exhibition. And not just in Hull. Tributes, reflections, inspiration flooded in from across the world via social media.

We thought we might share just a few of the many images and memories of what Simon Armitage rightfully called ‘Larkin Day’.

‘Finding Home’ Hull Truck Theatre

Writer and broadcaster, Matthew Sweet The Mechanicals Band

Vicky Foster and The Broken Orchestra. Imtiaz Dharker

Simon Armitage at Middleton Hall

And this really is just the beginning. There will be a host of Larkin-inspired events across the country throughout the rest of the year. Be sure to check our website and Twitter account for updates.

‘Finding Home’ 9 August Hull

Larkin100 presents

‘Finding Home’ Hull Truck Theatre, Tuesday 9 August 2pm

On what would have been Philip Larkin’s 100th birthday, writer and broadcaster Matthew Sweet will steer us through an afternoon in the city that both he, and Larkin, sometimes called home. Imtiaz Dharker, an Honorary Vice-President of the Philip Larkin Society, will share her newly commissioned poem on Larkin. The JoinedUpDance Company will perform ‘This Tide of Humber’, a mixed media dance piece based on another Imtiaz Dharker poem. Wes Finch, a Coventry based musician, will set Larkin’s words to music. The Broken Orchestra and Vicky Foster will tell stories of people Larkin might meet if he walked the Hull streets today.

Tickets: £15 and £12 concessions.

Bookings via Hull Truck Box Office, tel 01482 323 638

PLS in Coventry – the 2022 AGM

For the first time ever, and fittingly in the centenary year of Larkin’s birth, PLS held its AGM and Annual Distinguished Guest Lecture in Coventry at Larkin’s old school, King Henry VIII. It was the first face-to-face AGM for three years and so a particularly exhilarating get together of old friends and a host of new members and trustees of the Society.

Those arriving early had a rare opportunity to view the School’s Larkin Archive, guided by Helen Cooper, the School’s Librarian and Archivist. We could feast over Larkin’s school reports (ranging from the ‘average’ performance of his earlier years to the achievements in the sixth form which gained him a place at St John’s College, Oxford) and his early writing in the School’s magazine, The Coventrian. Helen also gave us a fascinating guided tour of the old part of the School, which Larkin would have known, and even took us onto the roof to contemplate the damage caused by the 1941 air raid which Larkin himself experienced while staying in the family house on Manor Road (since destroyed by the Coventry Ring Road).

A charred Bible damaged in the April 1941 air raid. It still smells of smoke!

Rachael Galletly, Merchandising Officer, with the new Larkin100 Tee-Shirts.

Philip Pullen, a PLS trustee and Chair of Larkin100 and himself a ‘Coventry Kid’, gave the annual lecture which focused on Larkin’s childhood and adolescent experiences in the city.

Philip’s talk can be viewed here.

Ben Kyneswood, of Coventry University, and the City of Culture’s Digital Archivist introduced us to the new online Larkin Trail, based on the original version written by Don Lee, and which can be found on the Coventry Digital Website.

A copy of Ben’s presentation can be found here.

The day ended with a talk arranged by the School and featuring international author, Pete Ho Davies, a previous pupil of King Henry VIII. Peter’s fascinating talk centred on the writer’s invisible art of revision with several references to the work of Philip Larkin.

Peter’s talk can be found here.

Alliance of Literary Societies AGM Weekend

The Philip Larkin Society was delighted to host the AGM of the Alliance of Literary Societies in Hull over the weekend of 20 – 22nd May 2022. The ALS acts as an umbrella organisation for literary societies and groups in the UK and provides support and advice on a variety of literary subjects, as well as promoting cooperation between member societies.

This was the first AGM to be held face-to-face for three years, following the disruption of the pandemic, and attracted over 50 delegates from a number of different literary societies, including some visitors from overseas.

In a weekend packed with activity, delegates were able to enjoy informal dinners at two of Hull’s best kept secrets, Hitchcock’s vegetarian restaurant in the old town, and the Minerva pub, once frequented by Larkin, as well as a tour of the University and parts of the Larkin Trail.

Friday night at Hitchcock’s.

Graham Chesters, Chair of The Philip Larkin Society.

PLS Trustees, Rachael Galletly and Daniel Vince, at our merchandise table.

Readings at The Minerva. Claire Harman, President of the Alliance of Literary Societies, reads from ‘Letters To Monica’.

PLS Honorary Vice President, Ann Thwaite, with letters and cards written to her by Philip Larkin and now donated to the Brynmor Jones Library.

Outside Larkin’s house in Newland Park.

The excellent key note lecture was given by Dr James Underwood who talked about the value of the Larkin Archive located at the Hull History Centre and how this informed the research for his book on ‘Early Larkin’

A recording of James’s talk can be found here.

Feedback from delegates, many of whom were visiting Hull for the first time, was highly positive as reflected in this comment:

It is marvellous to be surrounded by so many people who just want to talk about books. It is hard to pick out a favourite event but James Underwood’s talk, the visit to the university, and the walks to Larkin’s residences were brilliant. And I found the (Ferens) City Art Gallery – it is a little gem.

It also inspired this blog post by the Siegfried Sassoon Fellowship.

We are looking forward to attending next year’s ALS AGM which will be in Winchester, hosted by the Charlotte M Yonge Society.

Association of Literary Societies AGM weekend

The PLS is proud to be an organisational partner in the Alliance of Literary Societies and even prouder, in this Larkin centenary year, to be hosting the ALS Annual General Meeting in Hull, 20th-22nd May. The weekend is very much a social and literary occasion with an AGM embedded alongside informal meals and a chance to get together and discuss all things literary. All are welcome from all of ALS’s affiliated societies. The weekend is heavily themed around Larkin, as you might expect.

Please click on the link at the bottom of this forwarded message to find out more about the programme and booking details as well as discounted accommodation rates. It would be marvellous to see PLS well represented. If you are not already a member of the PLS then this would be a fantastic time to join

The Association of Literary Societies will be holding its AGM this year at the Hull History Centre. The weekend will be hosted by the Philip Larkin Society and will include a range of talks about his life and works, including his time at the University of Hull. As always there will be plenty of opportunities to meet and socialise with friends from other societies.

For a full programme of events and a booking form to secure your place at the event go to:

https://allianceofliterarysocieties.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/als-agm-2022.pdf

Tiny In All That Air – Honorary Vice-Presidents

The Philip Larkin Society has a formal structure which helps us to run effectively. This has allowed us to appoint a President (Anthony Thwaite 1930-2021) and a number of honorary vice-presidents. HVPs support the charity both publicly and behind the scenes and generously lend their name to our work. Recently we have been able to appoint some new HVPs, three of whom we speak to in this episode. Rosie Millard, journalist and University of hull Alumnus, sculptor Martin Jennings and writer David Quantick. They all reflect on their love of Larkin and their thoughts about the PLS. We also have a reading of The Whitsun Weddings by another new HVP, writer Ann Thwaite, OBE.

To access the podcast click here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/49LYkkM7KmkUD5HCnY0Cfs?si=a0f2c3f96e844400

Philip Larkin Collected Poems, edited by Anthony Thwaite, 1988 Faber

Hull: City of Culture | British Council

https://martinjennings.com/

https://davidquantick.com/

David Quantick reads MCMXLXIX from About Larkin No. 50 (October 2020)

Ann Thwaite | Authors | Faber & Faber

Presented by Lyn Lockwood.

Theme music: ‘The Horns Of The Morning’ by The Mechanicals Band. Buy ‘The Righteous Jazz’ at their Bandcamp page: https://themechanicalsband.bandcamp.com/album/the-righteous-jazz

Audio editing by Simon Galloway.

For Sidney Bechet – A ‘Tiny In All That AIR’ Podcast

Philip Larkin was not just a poet, he was also a jazz journalist. His collected articles can be found in All What Jazz: A Record Diary 1961–1971. (Faber and Faber. 1985). Larkin’s love of jazz was less prominent in his poetry, but one poem stands out as a startling ‘love song’ to New Orleans – For Sidney Bechet, (to be found in The Whitsun Weddings, 1964). In this episode we tell the fascinating story of saxophonist Sidney Bechet and how his life and music interwove with that of Larkin’s. We have some amazing jazz to accompany us and some voices of the time, opening with Philip Larkin himself.

For Sidney Bechet from The Whitsun Weddings by Philip Larkin (1964, Faber)- reading taken from The Sunday Sessions (2009)
Philip Larkin, Life, Art and Love by James Booth (Bloomsbury 2015)
Tracks from Larkins’ Jazz (Properbox 55):
· Sidney Bechet and his New Orleans Footwarmers- Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning and Blue Horizon
· Frankie Traumbauer and his Orchestra- Way Down Yonder in New Orleans
Other jazz tracks:
Sidney Bechet- Sheik of Araby and Petit Fleur
Monty Sunshine – Petit Fleur
Charlie Parker – A Night in Tunisia
Thom Yorke on Desert Island Discs https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008qg3
La La Land (dir. Damien Chazelle, 2016)
Treat It Gentle by Sidney Bechet (Cassell, 1960)
Sidney Bechet The Wizard of Jazz by John Chilton (Macmillan 1987)
An Enormous Yes In memoriam Philip Larkin (1922-1985)(Peterloo Poets, 1986)
Leonard Bechet clip from ‘Jelly Roll Morton Godfather of Jazz’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFpkgZBf-mc
https://themechanicalsband.bandcamp.com/album/the-righteous-jazz

Presented by Lyn Lockwood.
Audio production by Gavin Hogg, mastering by Simon Galloway.

Anthony Thwaite 1930-2021

We are deeply saddened by the passing of the President of the Philip Larkin Society, Anthony Thwaite. Anthony has held that role since the foundation of the Society in 1995 and only last year renewed his appointment for a further five years. To the presidency, he brought his reputation as a poet, his Larkin scholarship and his influential role as a Larkin executor. But he also brought his experience, his wisdom and his charm. Until ill health intervened in recent years, he was an incredibly loyal chair of the Annual Distinguished PLS lecture. He himself gave presentations and was a skilful interviewer at the launch of important Larkin books. He played a key part in two of the most joyous PLS moments: the unveiling of the Larkin statue in Hull and the memorialisation of Larkin in Poets’ Corner.

He leaves behind Ann, herself a distinguished author and powerful ally to Anthony in his presidency. To her we have offered our deepest condolences.

In due course, the Executive Committee will bend its mind to finding a successor. Quite some task.