OPEN DAY HIGHLIGHTS CINDERFORD POET

As part of the fantastic national Heritage Open Days we're delighted to be able to invite visitors to St Stephens Church in Cinderford - the final resting place of one of the Forest's most successful ever poets - Leonard Clark. 

An opportunity to see a rare collection of all of his work and hear some recently discovered recordings all related to this renowned poet and educationalist. Leonard Clark was a prolific author and editor, and the highlight of the exhibition is the opportunity to see a collection of his entire catalogue of written work, stretching from 1923 until his death in 1981, comprising over one hundred books. You will also get the opportunity to hear recordings of him reading his own work loaned by the British Sound Library. 

Leonard or ‘Bob’ as he was known was raised in Belle Vue Road. He was a protégé of the Yorkley poet FW Harvey and his first work was published just after the First World War. He became a teacher and educationalist, authoring poems and books for adults and children. He lived in many parts of Britain and became an important literary figure in the UK and USA, where his poetry for children was very influential. His biographies of his childhood and adolescence in the Forest, A Fool in the Forest, Green Wood and Grateful Caliban are still popular. The exhibition will include a full description of his life and career and early photographs loaned by his family.
 
The exhibition is free and refreshments will be available all day. 

The University of Gloucestershire, Reading the Forest Project, have organised the exhibition supported by the Heritage Open Days scheme and Cinderford Churches. 

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