Sidmouth poets host John Stuart at poetry morning

Sidmouth poets welcome Taunton-based poet as guest speaker

GUEST speaker at Sidmouth Poetry Readers’ spring poetry morning at The Belmont Hotel, Sidmouth, last Wednesday was Taunton-based poet John Stuart.

John, pictured with Mike Stott, chairman and Joyce Waterhouse, secretary, read his poems to an appreciative audience of members and guests.

John chairs the Somerset poet’s group, Fire River Poets, and runs the Poetry at the Brewhouse poetry caf�.

His first book of verse is published by Oversteps Books and his poetry has been described by M R Peacocke as “evocative, thoughtful and thought-provoking – poems which have the quiet wit of good conversation”.

After refreshments, SPR members read poems on the theme of Sleep and Dreams, ranging from Blake, Kipling, Wordsworth and Margaret Attwood, together with poems written by themselves.

Mr Stott described the morning as “A thoroughly enjoyable morning of poetry” and thanked staff at the Belmont for their warm welcome.