News

30 July 2011

Highly esteemed poet Simon Armitage, patron of the Elmet Trust believes that the Trust's Festival in October is a great opportunity to "relive [Ted Hughes'] poems over and over again." 

The Elmet Trust is a charitable company who promote the late poet laureate, Ted Hughes in the place of his birth, Mytholmroyd in West Yorkshire.

This yearly weekend festival held each year in Hughes' birth place attracts a buzz of people, and really helps to keep poetry alive in both adults and children.

Simon Armitage is completely behind the Trust:

"The Trust celebrates Hughes' connection with the locality he grew up in which plays such a central role in his poetry."

As well as having Hughes' focused events, new writers from the area are encouraged to come forward and show what they've got. Past events have included poetry slams, new novelist launches and childrens' writers to inspire the next generation of poets.

Jeni Wetton, one of the Director's of the Trust feels that the Festival is very much family orientated:

"We always have a couple of walks to show people the landscape that inspired some of Ted's poetry, as well as having child centred activities such as sculpture making."

She believes that few people appreciate how much of Ted's work was written for children:

"Working with young people we can share Ted's work as well as encourage children to create for themselves and be nurtured by the stunning countryside that surrounds them and inspired a poet."

Along with holding the yearly festival, the Trust hosts a Summer Celebration Dinner with a noted guest on Ted's birthday. This year it is writer and critic, Ann Skea. They also maintain Ted Hughes' former home as a Writing Retreat to support contemporary writers, and create money for their project by letting the house out as a holiday let.

As Simon Armitage says, "Hughes had a rare gift and a unique voice, both crafted and forged in West Yorkshire."

This year's festival will be held in Mytholmroyd between 21st - 23rd October. Readers include Liz Lochead, Anne Fine and Keith Sagar among others.

BUY YOUR TICKETS AT ONLINE AT www.wegottickets.com

OR BY PHONE from 12th September at Hebden Bridge Visitor and Canal Centre Tel: 01422 843831