I love John Hegley, most poets do (sweeping generalisation with no statistical back-up!) and I was terribly excited earlier on in 2015 when Jean Atkin announced that he was coming to Ludlow. A few months later Amy Rainbow announced he was coming to Malvern and I managed to catch him first at Confab, back in June.
https://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/2015/06/16/john-hegley-at-confab-cabaret-wlf-fringe/
So it is the Year of Hegley for me, as on September the 1st I went to Ludlow for his fantastically amusing workshop at Appletree Studios.
Jean Atkin © 2015
It was great working with a small enthusiastic group – actually it was a fairly large group by workshop standards.
At one point (after I had read a particularly witty ‘Sign’ Poem) John told us not to try to be funny, just write. I hoped he realised that I had just written and that came out – with the one liner, admittedly after writing about 5 failing haikus!
It was great fun and I have a whole collection of poetry swirling around my head on the theme of biscuits!
In the evening it was the Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room and John Hegley was headlining along with Ian McEwen.
It was a great night as always, the venue was packed and I was amongst the list of open mic-ers for the night. Ian McEwen’s poetry was new to me and something I will explore more (by buying his books) he did an experimental audience participation poem which was like nothing I have experienced before.
Jean Atkin © 2015
Mr Hegley, was Mr Hegley. I was delighted that the set was different to Malvern, although of course, we had the Guillemot join us! It has always been a delight to watch John perform. When I was first a poet at the age of 15 -21 I was a big fan of John Hegley and went to see him perform and met him when I was 19 and it had a big impact on me. Hero and Legends and all that stuff. Now as an adult and a writer/poet, I still love his work. It is good to have some heroes carried from teenhood to grownupsville… I will stop before I make John feel too old.
Incredibly talented. Massively entertaining. Balanced between side splitting – & wry smile humour, with a side order of heart string tugs from serious autobiographical poetry, an endearing and loveable poet and just a jolly, warm chap!
I am glad the railway station gave you two biscuits, you deserved them!
Jean Atkin © 2015
RELATED LINKS:
http://jeanatkin.com/2015/09/02/give-us-your-inner-guillemot/
awritersfountain 
I share your enthusiasm for John Hegley. I first saw him years ago performing with his band ‘The Popticians’ (he did lots of songs and poems about glasses). More recently, he performed at Enfield Poets and was fantastic. Good luck with your writing. Alan
Thanks Alan, I also saw him with the Popticians, it was all glasses back then, now it is potatoes and more recently biscuits. He is fabulous.
Glad you enjoyed the post.
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