Tiny In All That Air

Our guest today is Kate Romano. Kate is the CEO of arts centre Stapleford Granary which recently dedicated a whole weekend to celebrating many different aspects of Philip Larkin’s life, photography, jazz and poetry. Gavin and I were lucky enough to be able to head down there and enjoy the events as well as running a PLS stall in the middle of it all, talking about all things Larkin to the good people of Cambridgeshire.  Kate joined me to reflect back on the weekend and what she learned about Larkin in the process as well as to look at Broadcast, The Mower, Church Going and Lines on a Young Lady’s photograph album in particular. 

https://www.staplefordgranary.org.uk/whats-on/events

Michael Symmons Roberts https://symmonsroberts.com/

Wendy Cope https://www.faber.co.uk/author/wendy-cope/

John Betjeman- Death In Leamington

 Life, Art and Love by James Booth (Bloomsbury, 2014)

The Importance of Elsewhere by Richard Bradford, with an introduction by Mark Howarth-Booth ( Frances Lincoln, 2015)

The Sunday Sessions https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571244058-the-sunday-sessions/

Monica Jones, Philip Larkin and Me: Her Life and Long Loves by John Sutherland (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2021)

Larkin poems discussed:

Lines on A Young Lady’s Photograph Album, Church Going, Broadcast, The Mower

Music: 

Nobody’s Sweetheart; Mckenzie and Condon’s Chicagoans

One Hour: Mound City Blues Blowers

Produced by Lyn Lockwood and Gavin Hogg

Please email Lyn at ⁠[email protected] ⁠ with any questions or comments

PLS Membership, events, merchandise and information: philiplarkin.com

They might not meant to, but they do...

Joe Riley, teacher and poet of no great renown, is a lifelong lover of Larkin. In this series he attempts to read some of Larkin's poems in suitable places with his trusty tape recorder. In this final episode of the summer, Joe heads out with his daughter and reads This Be The Verse.

Please note this episode contains strong language.

Music: Feeling Drowsy by Henry Allen Junior and his Orchestra (1929)

Produced by Lyn Lockwood, Gavin Hogg and Joe Riley

Please email Lyn at [email protected] with any questions, comments or suggestions.

PLS Membership and information: philiplarkin.com

Theme music: The Horns of the Morning by the Mechanicals from their album The Righteous Jazz

Join Lyn Lockwood and Chris Sewart in Hull on 21st September for a Larkin inspired writing workshop

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/some-dappled-park-a-poetry-writing-workshop-inspired-by-philip-larkins-hull-tickets-940211757677?aff=oddtdtcreator

Today on the 9th August we celebrate Philip Larkin’s birthday and we read High Windows from start to end, in order to mark the 50th anniversary of Larkin’s final collection.

To the Sea- Lyn Lockwood Deputy Chair of the Philip Larkin Society

Sympathy in White Major- Dale Salwak Honorary Vice President of the Philip Larkin Society, professor English, magician

The Trees-Carole Collinson Trustee of the Philip Larkin Society

Livings: I, II, III-Clarissa Hard Trustee of the Philip Larkin Society

Forget What Did- Gavin Hogg member of the Philip Larkin Society, writer, podcast host

High Windows- Martin Jennings Honorary Vice President of the Philip Larkin Society, sculptor

Friday Night in the Royal Station Hotel -Alan Johnson Honorary Vice President of the Philip Larkin Society, writer, former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

The Old Fools-Andrew Motion Honorary Vice President of the Philip Larkin Society, writer, former Poet Laureate.

Going, Going-Kate Romano BBC Radio 3 producer, musician, CEO Stapleford Granary

The Card-Players-David Quantick Honorary Vice President of the Philip Larkin Society, novelist, screenwriter.

The Building-Ann Thwaite Honorary Vice President of the Philip Larkin Society, biographer.

Posterity-RM Healey founder member of the Alliance of Literary Societies

Dublinesque-Graham Chesters Chair of the Philip Larkin Society

Homage to a Government-Trevor Norwood Trustee of the Philip Larkin Society

This Be The Verse-Chris Sewart member of the Philip Larkin Society, prize winning poet based in East Yorkshire

How Distant-Cath Sked member of the Philip Larkin Society, former English teacher, arts enthusiast.

Sad Steps-Blake Morrison Honorary Vice President of the Philip Larkin Society, poet and novelist.

Solar-Rosie Millard President of the Philip Larkin Society, journalist, writer and broadcaster

Annus Mirabilis-Stewart Lee Honorary Vice President of the Philip Larkin Society, writer and comedian

Vers de Société-Rachael Galletly Trustee of the Philip Larkin Society

Show Saturday-Philip Pullen Trustee of the Philip Larkin Society

Money-Simon Galloway, audio producer, podcast host

Cut Grass-Devon Allison Chair of the Barbara Pym Society

The Explosion-Vicky Foster member of the Philip Larkin Society, writer, performer, poet and teacher based in Hull

Some references and further reading:

Eugene Boudin - 1824-1898- French landscape painter who focused on the outdoors and particularly harbours and beaches.

It Happened Like This by Vicky Foster (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2024)

The Old Fools Animation directed by Ruth Lingford, narrated by Bob Geldof https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376020/

We Peaked At Paper by Gavin Hogg and Hamish Ironside (Boatwhistle Books, 2022) https://www.boatwhistle.com/store/item/hogg--ironside-we-peaked-at-paper/

The Guardian review of High Windows https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jun/06/philip-larkin-poetry-high-windows-archive-1974

The Giddy Carousel of Pop presented by Simon Galloway and Gavin Hogg https://giddypoppod.home.blog/

Stewart Lee tour dates and news https://www.stewartlee.co.uk/

Martin Jennings public sculptor, Royal Coin https://martinjennings.com/

The Alliance of Literary Societies https://allianceofliterarysocieties.wordpress.com/

The Barbara Pym Society https://barbara-pym.org/

Sleeping on Islands: A Life In Poetry by Andrew Motion (Faber and Faber, 2023)

Two Sisters by Blake Morrison (The Borough Press, 2023)

Upcoming events

Please join Lyn Lockwood and Chris Ewart in Hull on 21st September 2024:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/some-dappled-park-a-poetry-writing-workshop-inspired-by-philip-larkins-hull-tickets-940211757677?aff=oddtdtcreator

Larkin Weekend 13-15 September 2024 at Stapleford Granary  

https://www.staplefordgranary.org.uk/whats-on/events/larkin-weekend

That Whitsun, I was late getting away:

Joe Riley, teacher and poet of no great renown, is a lifelong lover of Larkin. In this series he attempts to read some of Larkin's poems in suitable places with his trusty tape recorder. In this episode, Joe takes his seat on the 11.31 to London Waterloo and reads The Whitsun Weddings.

Music: Body and Soul by Coleman Hawkins and his Orchestra

Produced by Lyn Lockwood, Gavin Hogg and Joe Riley

Please email Lyn at [email protected] with any questions, comments or suggestions.

PLS Membership and information: philiplarkin.com

Theme music: The Horns of the Morning by the Mechanicals from their album The Righteous Jazz

Cut grass lies frail...

Joe Riley, teacher and poet of no great renown, is a lifelong lover of Larkin. In this series he attempts to read some of Larkin's poems in suitable places with his trusty tape recorder. In this episode, Joe ventures out on his school field to read and discuss Cut Grass from High Windows.

Music: Sidney Bechet - Si tu vous ma mere (Lonesome)

Produced by Lyn Lockwood, Gavin Hogg and Joe Riley

Please email Lyn at [email protected] with any questions, comments or suggestions.

PLS Membership and information: philiplarkin.com

Theme music: The Horns of the Morning by the Mechanicals from their album The Righteous Jazz

Our guest today is Douglas Bell, Professor of English Language Education at the School of Education, University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China.

Professor Douglas Bell first joined us in April to talk about the 2024 Conference in Hull and kindly stayed on the line to talk to me more widely about Philip Larkin in China. We talk about the reading and translation of Larkin in China, as well as the use of persona and thematic readings of Larkin. We also talk about why Larkin is not a sexist poet, Larkin’s use of rhyme, using Larkin’s poetry to exemplify language teaching, and how Doug found delivering a lecture to many of thousands of Chinese students on Philip Larkin last year. Doug reads Faith Healing and Morning at Last There in the Snow and I read Wires.

Please note there are a few glitches in the sound at the beginning but they do ease off.

13-15th September, Stapleford Granary Larkin Weekend, with jazz music, talks and  a photography display. Some of the events are free, some need to be booked.

https://www.staplefordgranary.org.uk/whats-on/events/larkin-weekend

Writing workshop with former Tiny guest and award winning poet Chris Sewart and podcast host Lyn Lockwood in Hull on Saturday 21st September. We will be based at Artlink on Princes Avenue and taking a gentle stroll around the Avenues and Pearson Park before coming back to the gallery for an afternoon of writing.. There are only 12 places available so if you’re interested you might want to get booking! 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/940211757677?aff=oddtdtcreator

Poems mentioned:

The Whitsun Weddings/Church Going/To The Sea/Love Songs in Age/A Study of Reading Habits/ Faith Healing/MCMXIV/Here/Show Saturday/Heads in The Women’s Room/This Be The Verse/Talking In Bed/ Wild Oats/Dockery and Son/Days/ Morning At Last there in the snow/Wires/Wedding Wind/ Breadfruit/ Poetry of Departures/ Self’s the Man/Aubade 

Warning by Jenny Joseph

Further reading and references:

Bell, D.E. (2023) The Poetry of Philip Larkin. Universal Themes Viewed Through a Peculiarly English Lens. Public lecture for Ningbo library delivered on September 23, 2023. A recording can be accessed at:

https://wx.vzan.com/live/page/2071198589?shauid=YUBtX4II7J_Vc34CAnoK1A**&vprid=0&sharetstamp=1695458198118

John Betjeman interviewing Philip Larkin in a 1964 episode of Monitor, which was a flagship arts programme on British tv during the 1950s and 1960s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coe11pgoj8E

David Quantick's keynote address at the PLS conference, 'Something more fidgety and various... 50 years of High Windows' at the University of Hull, 14th March 2024.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPQUTk6hUck

The Translation and Criticism of Philip Larkin’s poems in China Wan Furong, Zhang Yan 

https://philiplarkin.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/AboutLarkin-49.pdf

Letters to Monica by Philip Larkin ed. Anthony Thwaite (Faber, 2011)

Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Thomas Hardy (1892)

Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff ( 1873 –1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor.

Frédéric François Chopin (1810-1849)  was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period, who wrote primarily for solo piano.

Music: One Hour by Mound City Blue Blowers

Produced by Lyn Lockwood and Gavin Hogg

Please email Lyn at ⁠[email protected]⁠ with any questions or comments

PLS Membership and information: philiplarkin.com 

Joe Riley, teacher and poet of no great renown, is a

Music: Feeling Drowsy by Henry Allen Jr and His Orchestra

Please email Lyn at ⁠[email protected]⁠ with any questions, comments or suggestions for more readings for the podcast.

PLS Membership and information: philiplarkin.com 

Theme music: 'The Horns Of The Morning' by The Mechanicals

Betty Mackereth was Philip Larkin’s secretary at the library at the University of Hull. They were work colleagues and good friends, growing  closer and more intimate, as the years went on. Betty turns 100 on 27th June 2024.

We begin with Betty herself in conversation with James Booth when James was beginning his research into his biography of Philip Larkin . James calls her, Larkin’s ‘ageing muse of vitality’.

After this, we hear directly from James Booth who spoke Lyn and trustee Philip Pullen at James’s house earlier this year.

Thank you and special birthday wishes to Betty and thank you to Magnus Mackereth, Betty’s nephew, for giving us his blessing. Thanks again to James Booth and Philip Pullen and Simon Galloway for support with sound production.

Mary Judd -- See "'What fun we had in the early sixties!' Philip Larkin and Mary Wrench (Judd)" by James Booth, in About Larkin 45 (April 2018). Having appreciated The Less Deceived, Mary (b.1923) applied for a post as Assistant Librarian in Hull in 1956, wanting to see "what a poet is like". Larkin interviewed her himself, and flattered (and also intimidated) by her familiarity with his poetry, saw her off from Hull on the coach with the words "I hope you'll come". She fitted into the Library well, befriending Maeve Brennan and Betty Mackereth, took part in the momentous move of the library into its new building in 1959, and stayed until 1964. She married Stephen Judd and Larkin visited her in the hospital where she gave birth to her first daughter, Helen in 1962. Larkin became a conscientious long-distance godfather to Helen, and kept in touch with Mary, sending her cards and the occasional letter.

Suzanne Uniacke. (There is a village in County Cork called Uniacke. The Uniackes came over with the Conqueror. It's a rare name!) Suzanne was a Reader in the Philosophy Department in Hull from 2006 to 2013.

Pauline Dennison was a library colleague of Maeve Bennan. She cut a formidable figure in charge of the Issue Desk in the Brynmor Jones for many years.

Brenda Moon https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/mar/31/brenda-moon-obituary

Don Lee Don was a trustee of the PLS for many years, and developed many Larkin walks in sites across the country that are still used today.

Ivor Maw Philip Pullen- My Friend Ivor Maw (About Larkin 42) https://philiplarkin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/About-Larkin-42.pdf

Poems mentioned:

Love Again, The Dance, I Am Jake Balakowsky, Morning at last there in the snow, When First We Faced, We Met at the end of the party, Aubade, Symphony in White Major, Oxford, Broadcast, Toads Revisited, The Large Cool Store

The Philip Larkin I Knew- Maeve Brennan (Manchester University Press, 2002)

Philip Larkin: Life, Art and Love by James Booth  (Bloomsbury, 2015)

Letters Home by Philip Larkin ed. James Booth (Faber, 2018)

The Importance of Elsewhere: Philip Larkin’s Photographs by Richard Bradford (Francis Lincoln, 2015)

Philip Larkin Collected Poems ed. Anthony Thwaite (Faber, 1988)

The Complete Poems of Philip Larkin ed. Archie Burnett (Faber, 2012)

Philip Larkin: A Writer’s Life by Andrew Motion (Faber, 1994)

https://philiplarkin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/About-Larkin-35.pdf  Early Days in Philip Larkin’s Library Betty Mackereth

https://philiplarkin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/About-Larkin-25.pdf   'New Brooms' Philip Larkin Betty Mackereth

Philip Larkin and the Third Woman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRibIbHPAws

‘Former poet laureate Sir Andrew Motion discovers an unseen and unpublished poem by Philip Larkin when he returns to Hull to meet one of the poet's former lovers. Speaking for the first time about her relationship with Larkin, Betty Mackereth reveals the man behind the famous poems.’

Cast: Andrew Motion

First episode date: 7 December 2010

Robbins report https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbins_Report

Music:

Laura - Sidney Bechet

Petit Fleur- Monty Sunshine

Reckless Blues- Bessie Smith

The trees are coming into leaf

Like something almost being said

Joe Riley, teacher and poet of no great renown, is a

Music: In A Mellow Tone by Count Basie

Produced by Lyn Lockwood, Gavin Hogg and Joe Riley

Please email Lyn at ⁠[email protected]⁠ with any questions, comments or suggestions for more readings for the podcast.

PLS Membership and information: philiplarkin.com 

Theme music: 'The Horns Of The Morning' by The Mechanicals

The mower stalled, twice...

Joe Riley, teacher and poet of no great renown, is a

Music: Just a Mood (A Blue Mood) by the Teddy Wilson Quartet

Produced by Lyn Lockwood, Gavin Hogg and Joe Riley

Please email Lyn at ⁠[email protected]⁠ with any questions, comments or suggestions for more readings for the podcast.

PLS Membership and information: philiplarkin.com 

Theme music: 'The Horns Of The Morning' by The Mechanicals