Distinguished and new voices combine in final Session

The final Settle Session of the year starts with a reception open to everyone and a brief AGM followed by a strong programme of published and new poets. The evening takes place The Folly in Settle on Friday 20th November at 6.30pm.

"We've had a very successful year and look forward to celebrating this with friends and members in our reception to start the evening" said Jean Harrison of Settle Sessions. "Our final Session of the year brings together highly respected published poets, with voices new to Settle as well."

The evening's entertainment features two leading poets reading from new work associated with Yorkshire.

Chris Considine is a poet and former school-teacher who lived for many years in Swaledale, North Yorkshire, before moving to Plymouth in 2011.

Chris Considine

Chris's latest collection, In Search of Home, is about her move from Yorkshire to Devon and explores what it means to belong somewhere – what we might mean by ‘home’. Her Swaledale Sketchbook was shortlisted for the Forward Prize in the best first collection category in 2002. Other publications include St. Cuthbert and Bystanders, Learning to Look and Quarll, and Behind the Lines. At the beginning of 2004 she was a Hawthornden Fellow.

Ann Pilling is a distinguished writer of children's fiction and a poet, winning prizes and accolades for both careers. She will be reading from her new collection Ground Cover, poems about remote places, ageing and being young, about death and birth , and about the natural world and its power to redeem. Ann is a trustee of Settle Sessions and lives in The Yorkshire Dales which she calls "the country of my heart".

Ron Scowcroft

Also on the bill will be four writers airing their work in the brief "Read Two" section. Alan Pascoe is a playwright and poet with work heard on BBC Radio 3 & 4. Bob Dew is a priest who has found the space to write in retirement in The Lake District.

Bob Dew

Completing the bill are Founder member of Lancaster's April Poets Ron Scowcroft, and Gavin Wilshaw

Gavin Wilshaw

who writes both humorous and spiritual pieces.

 More information from settlesessions.co.uk or 01729 824537. Tickets £6 (£5.50 members) available from Cave and Crag, The Courtyard Dairy and The Folly.

Excellent combination

We were very pleased to bring together the establishment and the newcomer in our September Session! 

Meg Peacocke and Kim Moore graced the evening and brought a wide spectrum of emotions and observations to the evening.

Mike Barlow was very impressed:
Last night’s event was excellent. Both Meg and Kim. And what an interesting combination, the up-and-coming and the established and venerable. I’m just sorry there wasn’t a bigger audience. It deserved a packed one.

And I thought the local readers reading other poets’ work was also very good to hear and a nice change.


In the Read Two slot, locals Anne Richer, Sandra Fox and John Raubenheimer brought some of their favourite poems to share with a very appreciative audience

Some audience reactions:
A very good balance of speakers • Always an enjoyable evening • Great poets this evening • it was magnificent, the best yet

The next evening will be on Friday 20th November, starting with wine and nibbles reception. This will be your opportunity to suggest how you would like Settle Sessions to be in 2016.