100 years to the day that he completed his first poem, celebrated war poet and Steep resident Edward Thomas was commemorated.
Organised jointly by Bedales School and Churcher’s College, the event on Sunday 16 November saw presentations at Bedales on Thomas’ life and poetic influence by Dr Guy Cuthbertson of Liverpool Hope University and member of the Edward Thomas Fellowship, and the poet’s relationship with the local landscape by David Anson (Bedales) and David Cave (Churcher’s College). This was accompanied by an exhibition in memory of Bedales and Churcher’s College students who died in WWI, and also an additional opening of the exhibition in Bedales’ Gallery of furniture by the Edward Barnsley Workshop, renowned local Arts & Crafts inspired furniture designer-makers.
A tour of Steep included visits to the memorial window in All Saints Church and Thomas’ place of writing in Froxfield, a walk to the Poet’s Stone on Shoulder of Mutton Hill, and lunch at the White Horse at Priors Dean where Irish literary critic Edna Longley, and poet Michael Longley, CBE marked the anniversary.
