Jeremy Robson, Martin Reed and Andy Croft

Poets Jeremy Robson, Martin Reed and Andy Croft celebrate the centenary of the birth of the poet and author Vernon Scannell with readings and a recently re-edited film of the poet which has never been shown in public before.  In it Scannell speaks about his difficult upbringing, war-time experiences, literary enthusiasms and habits of working and is seen reading some of his own poems.

Scannell, pictured, who died in 2007, was a poet and author and former professional boxer. He took part in the Second World War, in North Africa and at the D-Day landings and received a special award from the Wilfred Owen Association for his war poetry including the collection, Walking Wounded. Robson, a poet and publisher of Scannell, with Reed, Scannell’s literary executor, will recall personal memories of their friend and fellow poet.

To mark the centenary of Scannell’s birth, Robson and Reed have edited Farewell Performance: The Collected Later Poems of Vernon Scannell published by Smokestack Books, an independent publisher of poetry run by Andy Croft.  Scannel’s classic war memoir, Argument of Kings, is being reissued to tie in with this event.

This event lasts one hour 15 minutes.