Poets gather for moorland picnic in tribute to old friend

DISCUSSION GROUP REUNITES AFTER OVER A DECADE TO PERFORM THEIR WORKS

- WILLIAM TELFORD

IT was a picnic with a difference - a poets' picnic which honoured a dear friend.

A group of Plymouth’s leading poets performed their work in the bucolic grounds of a manor house on the edge of Dartmoor, not far from the city.

They shared food and verse in a special meeting which grew out of a chance meeting at the funeral of another stalwart of the Plymouth literary scene.

John Hall, a former vice-principal at Dartington College of Arts, now part of Falmouth University, recently died at the age of 80.

He had several collections of poetry published by Shearsman and was a member of a Plymouth discussion group which met regularly at members’ homes to discuss poets, poetry and individual poems.

The group had not met for several years, but former members Steve Spence and Norman Jope reconnected with Kevin Cox, who also lived near John on the edge of Dartmoor, at John’s funeral.