2026
February 28th: In the Footsteps of Leonard Clark - guided walk, Cinderford
March 7-8th: Beyond the Books - exhibition + performances, talks, readings, Dean Heritage Centre
Details below...
March 7-8th: Beyond the Books - exhibition + performances, talks, readings, Dean Heritage Centre
Details below...
FEBRUARY
Poet, author and educationalist Leonard Clark (OBE), (1905-1981) grew up in Edwardian Cinderford. He was was born in the Channel Islands, his unmarried mother, a governess having gone there from London to avoid the social embarrassment at that time of having a child outside of marriage. He was fostered to a friend in Cinderford where he grew up with his adopted family. He was a protege of F.W. Harvey who helped him publish his first volume of poems. He became a pupil teacher in Cinderford, and after formal training he left the Forest of Dean to follow his career, never to live here again. His childhood and the Forest were a lifelong source of inspiration reflected in his poetry and writing, particularly his memoirs A Fool in The Forest and Green Wood. His poetry often reflected his love of the natural world in the woods and fields around Cinderford, Littledean, and Newnham on Severn. He regularly returned to the Forest for inspiration, stories and friends, writing his own investigation into the Ruardean bear killings. An 'Intimate Landscape' published after his death was a masterpiece of reflection on how Cinderford had changed in his lifetime.
THE WALK
Join Dr Roger Deeks on Saturday 28th February for this guided walk and talk "In the Footsteps of Leonard Clark". Taking in sites and stories in Leonard's life in Cinderford, discover the people and places that inspired him and so much of his writing.
STARTING POINT
Meet at The War Memorial in the centre of town ready for 11am departure on foot.
FINNISH
The walk will culminate inside St Stephen's Church for a light lunch, discussion and poetry readings.
PARKING
There are usually ample free spaces at Cinderford Rugby Club - please enter through the Rugby Club entrance
(NOT via the Tesco's car park as you will be registered on camera & may be fined for exceeding the parking limit). Alternative parking can be found in front of The Belle Vue Centre, and The Library.
ACCESSIBILITY
The walk route is accessible for users of wheelchairs / mobility scooters (modest size). There are a small number of steeper sections to the walk.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
In the unlikely event that very large numbers attend we may need to arrange a second walk so as not to put people at risk (re: overcrowding on pavements next to roads, traffic etc.)
IN EVENT OF EXTREME WEATHER
In the event of heavy rain / snow, or very high winds, there will instead be a talk from 11am at St Stephen's.
CONTACT
If you have any questions about the walk, please email: [email protected]
Join Dr Roger Deeks on Saturday 28th February for this guided walk and talk "In the Footsteps of Leonard Clark". Taking in sites and stories in Leonard's life in Cinderford, discover the people and places that inspired him and so much of his writing.
STARTING POINT
Meet at The War Memorial in the centre of town ready for 11am departure on foot.
FINNISH
The walk will culminate inside St Stephen's Church for a light lunch, discussion and poetry readings.
PARKING
There are usually ample free spaces at Cinderford Rugby Club - please enter through the Rugby Club entrance
(NOT via the Tesco's car park as you will be registered on camera & may be fined for exceeding the parking limit). Alternative parking can be found in front of The Belle Vue Centre, and The Library.
ACCESSIBILITY
The walk route is accessible for users of wheelchairs / mobility scooters (modest size). There are a small number of steeper sections to the walk.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
In the unlikely event that very large numbers attend we may need to arrange a second walk so as not to put people at risk (re: overcrowding on pavements next to roads, traffic etc.)
IN EVENT OF EXTREME WEATHER
In the event of heavy rain / snow, or very high winds, there will instead be a talk from 11am at St Stephen's.
CONTACT
If you have any questions about the walk, please email: [email protected]
March
Over the past two years the Forest of Dean Writers Collection Project has amassed a huge new collection of papers and ephemera relating to Forest poets and authors. The new collection at the Dean Heritage Centre covers nearly two hundred years and includes work by Catherine Drew, Leonard Clark, Harry Beddington, Valerie Grosvenor Myer, Humphrey Phelps, Gladys Duberley, Ralph Anstis, and Ian Claridge.
The 'Beyond the Books' exhibition will be showcasing just some of the treasures in this vast new collection of over a 1,000 individual items, plus some from the Centre's existing Dennis Potter Archive. As well as original handwritten manuscripts and early drafts, also on display will be notebooks, play scripts, and scrapbooks; never before seen unpublished poems and novels; and correspondence and personal items - including Catherine Drew's lace cap and Humphrey Phelps' iconic pipes! The collection also includes a surprising number of artworks: As well as book cover designs and illustrations there are artworks by the writers themselves, most notably dozens of sketches, line drawings and paintings by Harry Beddington - his skill as an artist being one of the many discoveries made during the project. Other artwork on show in the exhibition will be a 1960s portrait painting of author, and academic Valerie Grosvenor Myer who grew up in Soudley; and illustrations by Gladys Duberley who once lived in a cottage on the very site of today's Dean Heritage Centre!
The main exhibition will be held in 'The Old Smithy' building adjacent to the Heritage Coffee Shop at Dean Heritage Centre, where, in addition to seeing the artifacts and learning about the writers, you can try your hand at deciphering Leonard Clark's handwriting and translating Forest dialect; and watch a series of specially commissioned short films about the work and writers in the collection. You can then follow a trail through the rest of the museum connecting Forest writers' work with existing displays, including installations inspired by the new FoD Writers Collection by recent artist-in-residence John Slater.
And...over the two days of the exhibition a number of readings, talks and performances will be happening in the museum, including a 'performance-reading' of two of Harry Beddington's one-act comedies written in Forest dialect (courtesy of a team from The Wesley Players) and poet Catherine Drew 'herself' (embodied by Mary Dutson in costume) reading some of Catherine's newly discovered poems now in the collection.
Entrance to this exhibition is free thanks to players of the National Lottery Players through the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the support of the Dean Heritage Museum Trust (donations to Dean Heritage Centre towards running costs very much appreciated!) and the support of University of Gloucestershire. Thanks also to the very many volunteers on the project and the huge generosity of those who so kindly donated material to the collection.
The 'Beyond the Books' exhibition will be showcasing just some of the treasures in this vast new collection of over a 1,000 individual items, plus some from the Centre's existing Dennis Potter Archive. As well as original handwritten manuscripts and early drafts, also on display will be notebooks, play scripts, and scrapbooks; never before seen unpublished poems and novels; and correspondence and personal items - including Catherine Drew's lace cap and Humphrey Phelps' iconic pipes! The collection also includes a surprising number of artworks: As well as book cover designs and illustrations there are artworks by the writers themselves, most notably dozens of sketches, line drawings and paintings by Harry Beddington - his skill as an artist being one of the many discoveries made during the project. Other artwork on show in the exhibition will be a 1960s portrait painting of author, and academic Valerie Grosvenor Myer who grew up in Soudley; and illustrations by Gladys Duberley who once lived in a cottage on the very site of today's Dean Heritage Centre!
The main exhibition will be held in 'The Old Smithy' building adjacent to the Heritage Coffee Shop at Dean Heritage Centre, where, in addition to seeing the artifacts and learning about the writers, you can try your hand at deciphering Leonard Clark's handwriting and translating Forest dialect; and watch a series of specially commissioned short films about the work and writers in the collection. You can then follow a trail through the rest of the museum connecting Forest writers' work with existing displays, including installations inspired by the new FoD Writers Collection by recent artist-in-residence John Slater.
And...over the two days of the exhibition a number of readings, talks and performances will be happening in the museum, including a 'performance-reading' of two of Harry Beddington's one-act comedies written in Forest dialect (courtesy of a team from The Wesley Players) and poet Catherine Drew 'herself' (embodied by Mary Dutson in costume) reading some of Catherine's newly discovered poems now in the collection.
Entrance to this exhibition is free thanks to players of the National Lottery Players through the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the support of the Dean Heritage Museum Trust (donations to Dean Heritage Centre towards running costs very much appreciated!) and the support of University of Gloucestershire. Thanks also to the very many volunteers on the project and the huge generosity of those who so kindly donated material to the collection.
OPENING TIMES
Exhibition open 10am - 4pm, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th March.
GETTING THERE
Dean Heritage Centre, Camp Mill, Soudley, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, GL142UB.
Free parking at the Dean Heritage Centre.
By bus:
Stagecoach journey planner (click link)
The Robin bookable bus (click link)
By train:
Nearest train stations are Lydney, or Gloucester.
Travel Bursary: if the cost of travel (from within the Forest of Dean) is a barrier to you coming to this exhibition, get in touch as we may be able to cover bus ticket costs (terms & conditions apply). Please email: [email protected].
ACCESSIBILITY
Full details available here: https://www.deanheritagecentre.org/accessibility
PERFORMANCE, TALKS, READINGS (check back for updates)
Check on arrival for updated list and timings
Exhibition open 10am - 4pm, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th March.
GETTING THERE
Dean Heritage Centre, Camp Mill, Soudley, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, GL142UB.
Free parking at the Dean Heritage Centre.
By bus:
Stagecoach journey planner (click link)
The Robin bookable bus (click link)
By train:
Nearest train stations are Lydney, or Gloucester.
Travel Bursary: if the cost of travel (from within the Forest of Dean) is a barrier to you coming to this exhibition, get in touch as we may be able to cover bus ticket costs (terms & conditions apply). Please email: [email protected].
ACCESSIBILITY
Full details available here: https://www.deanheritagecentre.org/accessibility
PERFORMANCE, TALKS, READINGS (check back for updates)
Check on arrival for updated list and timings
2025
September
2024
december
october
Backstage at the Gage - with the Forest of Dean Writers Collection
Thursday, 3rd October
LIVE ONLINE from Dean Heritage Centre
12.00-noon UK
(1.00pm GMT)
FREE STREAM
Thursday, 3rd October
LIVE ONLINE from Dean Heritage Centre
12.00-noon UK
(1.00pm GMT)
FREE STREAM
Join us as we showcase newly discovered poems by two Forest poets who lived more than 100 years apart. For Uk National Poetry Day we will take you on a journey through the life, times, work and places of these two remarkable Cinderford writers: Catherine Drew (b.1784) and Harry Beddington (b.1901). Both from working-class families they lived and worked their whole lives within the Forest of Dean. They left us a treasure trove of work that still speaks to us all today about this fascinating land between two rivers.
See the incredible artefacts that have recently come into the Forest of Dean Writers Collection at the Dean Heritage Centre museum in the heart of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire with collections experts Nicola Wynn and Dr Jason Griffiths.
Link goes live 10mins before the event starts at 12.00-noon (1.00pm GMT)
LINK below...
See the incredible artefacts that have recently come into the Forest of Dean Writers Collection at the Dean Heritage Centre museum in the heart of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire with collections experts Nicola Wynn and Dr Jason Griffiths.
Link goes live 10mins before the event starts at 12.00-noon (1.00pm GMT)
LINK below...
SEPTEMBER
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Exhibition
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Talk
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MAY
2023
An afternoon of Gloucestershire's finest, kicking off with the lives of six Forest authors....
For more information and details of how to book, see the Heritage Hub website at www.heritagehub.org.uk
or call 01452 425295
Heritage Hub, Clarence Row, Alvin Street, Gloucester GL1 3DW.
Parking on-site.
or call 01452 425295
Heritage Hub, Clarence Row, Alvin Street, Gloucester GL1 3DW.
Parking on-site.
2021
The Forest authors Festival, 2021: Saturday November 6th
A day-long festival of Forest writing and authors from Reading the Forest and Dean Writers Circle
A FREE event - you can book or turn up on the day
A day-long festival of Forest writing and authors from Reading the Forest and Dean Writers Circle
A FREE event - you can book or turn up on the day
UPDATE - the start time of our event has changed: doors open at 12 noon.
programme (revised)
2020
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Leonard Clark, and St Stephen's Church
online Heritage Open Day, 2020 In partnership with Cinderford Churches Benefice this virtual Heritage Open Day we're marking the important life-long connection between poet Leonard Clark and the iconic St Stephen's Church building in Cinderford. Watch new readings of ten of Clark's poems recorded especially for Heritage Open Day 2020 Forest of Dean.
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Leonard Clark was a nationally important poet, literary editor, and educationalist whose life and work were grounded in Cinderford and the Forest of Dean. He was fostered to a family on Belle Vue Road in Cinderford and raised in the town until he left to train as a teacher in the late 1920s. He became an influential figure in the world of poetry principally through his anthologies and his role in promoting poetry education for which he was awarded an OBE. He was admired and praised by luminaries such as Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney before he died in 1981.
His early life and subsequent work were strongly influenced by his experiences in St Stephen’s Church which stood a few yards down the road from where he lived. His mother was a member of the congregation and he became a chorister in the Church. Written late in his life, his memoirs A Fool in the Forest and Green Wood are replete with stories and characters that centred around the Church which was at the heart of the community. Find out more about him - and hear some of his poems in his own voice - here.
His early life and subsequent work were strongly influenced by his experiences in St Stephen’s Church which stood a few yards down the road from where he lived. His mother was a member of the congregation and he became a chorister in the Church. Written late in his life, his memoirs A Fool in the Forest and Green Wood are replete with stories and characters that centred around the Church which was at the heart of the community. Find out more about him - and hear some of his poems in his own voice - here.
2019
The Cinderford author Harry Beddington was a talented playwright too (as well as writer, poet, performer and illustrator) and this year is the 75th anniversary of his prize-winning play Footing the Bill. Harry's one-act farce -all in Forest dialect - won first prize at the Gloucestershire Music & Drama Festival of 1944. To mark the anniversary a quartet of skilled amateur actors are performing it as part of Mitcheldean Festival. And what could be more appropriate - it's at Jolter Press, home of the cider producer named after that legendary Forest character Jolter that Harry did so much to popularise through his anecdotes in the local newspapers, and his on stage persona.
Find out more about Harry's drama writIng here, and about him and his other work in the Authors section of this website.
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2018
JUNE
A Fortunate Man Revisited - 50 years on
22nd - 24th
In 1967, A Fortunate Man, written by the art-critic John Berger with photographs by Swiss documentary photographer Jean Mohr, was published to international acclaim. It explored the relationship between a rural doctor and his patients in the Forest of Dean and would go on to become recommended reading for trainee GPs. It was an intense, probing analysis of the doctor – Dr John Sassal – but also provoked questions about the role of the GP more widely in society. The setting of the book – St Briavels – and the doctor and his patients were all anonymised in the interests of confidentiality and securing participation, although the pictures and the dramatic death of the GP years later made the location and participants apparent.
Join us to examine the book firmly from the perspective of the real community (St Briavels) at the centre of the book. Was it a fair depiction of the village, community and wider Forest of Dean, of the 1960s? What picture does it paint of the real-life St Briavels doctor, John Eskell, at the centre of the book? How accurate is Berger’s depiction and analysis?
Friday, 22nd June, 7.30pm, Soudley Village Hall
Screening of A Fortunate Man the film
Docu-drama of the book, made in 1972 & filmed in Soudley & Blakeney and featuring local people. Introduced by special guest Jeff Perks the film’s producer and director.
Saturday, 23rd June, 11am-4pm, St Briavels Assembly Rooms
Exhibition, Talks & Screening
In 1967, A Fortunate Man, written by the art-critic John Berger with photographs by Swiss documentary photographer Jean Mohr, was published to international acclaim. It explored the relationship between a rural doctor and his patients in the Forest of Dean and would go on to become recommended reading for trainee GPs. It was an intense, probing analysis of the doctor – Dr John Sassal – but also provoked questions about the role of the GP more widely in society. The setting of the book – St Briavels – and the doctor and his patients were all anonymised in the interests of confidentiality and securing participation, although the pictures and the dramatic death of the GP years later made the location and participants apparent.
Join us to examine the book firmly from the perspective of the real community (St Briavels) at the centre of the book. Was it a fair depiction of the village, community and wider Forest of Dean, of the 1960s? What picture does it paint of the real-life St Briavels doctor, John Eskell, at the centre of the book? How accurate is Berger’s depiction and analysis?
Friday, 22nd June, 7.30pm, Soudley Village Hall
Screening of A Fortunate Man the film
Docu-drama of the book, made in 1972 & filmed in Soudley & Blakeney and featuring local people. Introduced by special guest Jeff Perks the film’s producer and director.
Saturday, 23rd June, 11am-4pm, St Briavels Assembly Rooms
Exhibition, Talks & Screening
- Forest doctors in print
- Screening of 1967 BBC TV feature on the book, Dr Eskell & St Briavels
- St Briavels & the Forest in the 1960s
- St Briavels Today: Photography & writing by St Briavels School puils
- Jean Mohr’s photographs – putting names to faces
- Remembering Dr Eskell
- Dr Eskell’s cine films of the village
- Discussion panel
- Exhibition (as above)
- Guided walk remembering the village in the 1970s
- St Briavels Local History - bring along and share your photos, documents and memories about the village in the 1960s and 70s.
Author and critic John Berger
March 2018
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