Two cinderford poets - new poems discovered

Two of the Forest’s most popular poets lived more than 100 years apart – Catherine Drew (born 1784) and Harry Beddington (born 1901). They wrote about the Forest’s people, places, landscape and history. Catherine described the remarkable changes she saw as Forest industry expanded and Cinderford grew into a town; Harry captured the essence of the Forest character through sharp observation and humour. Now we’re discovering there was even more to these two than we’d thought: finding forgotten poems written by Catherine, and unpublished poems (and more!) by Harry. To share some of our new discoveries, Dean Heritage Centre is streaming live online (for the first time!) this Thursday (3rd Oct.) 12noon (1pm GMT) from the Gage Library. Log on if you can and hear some of these newly (re)discovered poems as we mark National Poetry Day in the Forest of Dean. And see some of the other incredible material relating to these two writers recently donated to the new Forest of Dean Writers Collection. All made possible with support ofThe National Lottery Heritage Fund