Tuesday 2 February 2016

The Day I met Terry Wogan


I had the privilege of acting as Radio 2’s Bard for the Day for their special event “2Day” in 2012. This was a promotional day when all their presenters took to the air at different times from normal for an hour. The idea being you got to listen to something different from your normal routine and if you liked it then, you might feel like searching it out at a different time.


It was a hugely exciting day for me, meeting genuine Celebs and the people behind some of the most famous voices on the air such as Sally Traffic and The Voice of The Balls. My brief was to observe, listen in and write a poem based on my impressions. There were live performances from guests such as Paloma Faith and Tom Jones and what I hadn’t realised is the scale of the day for the Station as well as me.  I was there from 7am and watched the day unfold, awe struck by the stars and the professionalism of the staff as they dealt with a hectic schedule and switches from studio to live performance to outside broadcast. Late in the morning I started to turn my thoughts to the poem as I knew it would have to go through a couple layers of management vetting. I wrote, edited and submitted the poem and after lunch kept watching the shows and celebs.


I then became aware that is day was an extraordinary day for the station and the famous DJs. They don’t get together as often as you might think and to see so many of them in one place was a special occasion for them.  As the DJs finished their one hour shows, they stayed around. These were heroes of mine, representing years of experience: Tony Blackburn, Simon Mayo, Richard Allinson, Bob Harris and Claudia Winkleman. Into this maelstrom of activity and energy calmly walked Terry Wogan after his hour on air. He was dressed immaculately in a dark suit, shirt and tie. He made his entrance, stopped for a moment to take in the scene and made a couple of wry comments about how did he get away with this stuff. What impressed me most was the way he picked his way through all the activity, heading to the corner where the kettle was and made his own tea.  


The Head of Radio 2 saw all of these presenters together and said they should all get together for a photo. So they grouped up and then started stepping out to take a photo on their own phones. I offered to take them so that they could be in the photo and I ended up snapping pics for several of them.  My wife, (a huge fan of Terry and a TOG) had issued me with an ultimatum: Get Terry’s autograph or don’t come home! I asked the producer who had booked me, if she would mind introducing me so I could get Terry’s book autographed for my wife, which she kindly did.

Terry was charming and said I should have told them I was the Poet in Residence. As I had dressed in a suit, they’d assumed I was a BBC Executive!

It was a brief meeting and Terry was friendly, approachable and as personable as you would imagine. He kindly signed the book and we chatted for a short while. Soon after, the crowd dispersed and I had to wait to broadcast my poem live on the Arts Hour with Claudia Winkleman (who was indescribably kind and lovely, making me feel at ease).


Afterward broadcasting live and leaving the station I was literally shaking with adrenalin. I found a place to sit down, call my wife and look at the text messages that had  come in.  It was an unforgettable day and hearing the news of Terry’ s death brought it all back to me. I can’t adequately capture my sadness at the news of Terry’s passing.  For now I can offer this short poem.

RIP Sir Terry!

A Limerick for the Boy from Limerick

With heavy hearts we bid farewell
To a broadcaster who simply excelled
He made each one of us feel
Only the two of us were real
Thanks for being our friend Sir Tel

 Keep writin' and recitin'
Mark x

PS You can see the poem I performed for 2Day here

Monday 21 December 2015

A Year In The Life


One of my favourite songs from the world of Musicals is Seasons of Love from Rent. Some of the lyrics are:


Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?


In daylights, in sunsets
In midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife
In five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, a year in the life?


I mention this because I have just celebrated my birthday (guess which one if you like, but please be kind). Not a remarkable thing to do, we each have one a year and it wasn’t a BIG birthday, but this was a significant one for me simply because it is a year on from my worst ever birthday.


Last year, I was working on my birthday. I didn’t really want to, but as a freelance artist, you have to take the jobs when they come along, no matter if they aren’t your first choice. So it was last year, on my birthday I was working in a field in Northamptonshire next to a Garden Centre acting out the part of a certain scarlet and fur bedecked, rotund, bearded gentleman associated with this time of year.


I was in the middle of my first session with a crowd of children and parents when in the distance, the sound of a car alarm going off leached into my rendition of Jingle Bells. No one was worried because car alarms go off all the time for no reason. This time there was a reason and I was the victims.

I had left my bag in the car because (ironically) there was nowhere secure to leave it as I was working in a marquee. I won’t go through the entire day of emotions but the upshot was this:

  • The bag with my wallet and approx. £500 in cash for a holiday, from cash fees and book sales was gone.
  • Insurance refused to cover it
  • Items such as a coin purse that had belonged to my Dad and a necklace I’d bought for my wife for Christmas were taken
  • I was due to leave to work on a cruise ship as a guest speaker in two days time and the loss of credit/debit cards was a blow as these are needed to register when you board.

All this happened on my birthday, while playing Father Christmas with a full day of appointments ahead of me. The police would not attend as I had to report it in person. I don’t know how I got through the day but I was professional and fulfilled all my appointments that day. My wife was brilliant, dealing with the Card and insurance companies but at the end of the day with a taped up back window, I left the site at 6.30pm, pulled over at the first opportunity and just wept.

The attack felt so personal. The money taken had been so hard earned, and the callousness of the thieves, targeting cars parked up to have a Santa experience hit me hard. I cannot remember a time feeling so low and devastated. My rational side kicked in and told me I was safe and still have a home and I was still better off than the majority of the world, but despair and a sense of injustice overwhelmed me. As I said: Worst.  Birthday. Ever.


I posted on Facebook and got loads of empathetic messages which helped me somewhat. I remember posting, more from hubris than belief “Look out 2015, I’m having you”. I’m pleased to say that seems to have been the case. Poetry gigs, workshops and schools work has increased. I am quietly building a base for my poetic activities in MK. There has been success from writing in different genres (for the stage and a children’s collection launched). Growing engagement with public and civic events as Milton Keynes’ Poet Laureate has been evident and a fantastic season singing with the Heart & Music choir which always inspires, and gives me a creative family with whom I feel at home.


So this birthday for me was all about replacing the memory of the last one. My wife who loves me bought me a Cajon. As I practice, she may not love me for very long!, I read cards and personal messages from friends who mean so much to me and had nearly a hundred “Happy Birthdays” on Facebook. Overall a low key day spent cleaning and cooking as we prepared the house for friends coming to a “Strictly” Supper Party to watch the final of the series. 

Just one year on from the last but it may as well have been light years in terms of the tangible feelings of love and friendship from the despair of last year. So thanks to everyone for their good wishes. Positive actions no matter how small (such as a message on Facebook) have an effect. I’m grateful for everyone is part of my life. Have a great Christmas and a successful New Year. I’m saying it again with more belief than last year, “Look out 2016, I’m having you”!

Love, light and best wishes to all

Keep writin' and recitin'

Mark x





Sunday 24 May 2015

Super Crazy Busy Week

 

As a freelance, every now and again, work and engagements seem to congregate in the same small corner of the calendar. This week is the culmination of so many months of diverse work and I share not to boast but to encourage those of you working freelance in the arts, that hard work does sometime pay off and offsets the rejections and failed bids for funding.

 

I am learning that finding partners is a key to finding successful projects and I am grateful to all of the partners and organisations that are helping me live the life I have always sought.

 

On Monday and Tuesday I have the privilege of performing at How The Light Gets In Festival at Hay on Wye. A solo show on Monday evening at 7pm and part of an all day Poetry event.

 


 

On Wednesday, I will be working at the Parks Trust helping to promote activities at the MK Rose (more later) and in the evening, I am delighted that one of my short theatre pieces “Walking on Bombshells” will receive its debut by the wonderful Carabosse Theatre Company at their Real Ale and Drama Shots night alongside six other new theatre pieces. There is a run from Wednesday to Saturday at the Buszy in Milton Keynes

 


 

On Thursday evening, I will be reading at the opening of an exhibition called Here I am at the chapel in Milton Keynes Hospital for Arts on Prescription. I have conducted workshops with a group from a retirement village around the theme of the five senses of memory and some of the poems will be part of the exhibition.

 


 

On Saturday evening, I will be singing with Heart and Music, the choir at a concert to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Newport Pagnell Methodist Chapel. I also do a short poetry set as part of the concert.

 


 

Finally, to round off a wonderfully varied week, I am reading a commissioned poem as part of the Motus Dance Company project Response. This is a site-specific dance project starting at the MK Gallery and finishing at the MK Rose in Campbell Park. As to whether I end up taking part in the Dance, you will just have to turn up and see!

 


 

Have a great week yourself and hopefully see you at an event.

 

Keep writin’ and recitin’

 

Mark x

Thursday 7 May 2015

Fire: VE Day 70th anniversary poem

Fire
Written for VE Day’s 70th Anniversary Celebrations

This was the day the nation exhaled,
Loosened up, unstiffened its lip.
Shook free its hair and
Shook its hips as
Bands played from balconies
Turning squares into dance floors,
Bottles hidden for special occasions,
Are sprung from secret stores.

Joy unrestrained, black bordered with relief,
Class and other differences set aside,
The postponed shudders of grief
Lost in the communal pride
Of celebration. The endorphin rush of
Finding the hot spot crush at
The Palace, the Circus, or Trafalgar Square.
The day we’d dared

Hope for but never mentioned
Finally, tangibly, here.
So in true British style,
We raised and sank many beers,
Called our darkest fears, liars.
So tonight, we light fires
A symbol of returning light
On the day when the black and white

Of war gave way to the fresh colours of peace.
The Bells of St Paul’s sang treble to tug horn bass.
Strangers kissed anyone in uniform
Full in the face.
An end to that stage of conflict,
A start of recovery from all the hits.
That day when even our future Queen
Danced the conga in the Ritz.

Thursday 30 April 2015

War poem / song


Soldiers True

 

Verse One

British summer, nineteen fourteen

War declared though not foreseen

From city centre and village greens

Came many soldiers true      

 

Refrain

For King and Country we signed to serve

To strain each muscle, sinew and nerve

From faithful duty we will not swerve

For the red white and blue,

Yes we are soldiers true.

 

Verse Two

Sign up, sign up lads, by the bunch

Help us land that knockout punch

You’ll be back for Christmas lunch

Short-term soldiers true

 

Verse Three

For weeks we marched and fought and trained

In snow or sleet, sunshine or rain

Do as you’re told, don’t use your brain

To be soldiers true

 

Refrain

For King and Country we signed to serve

To strain each muscle, sinew and nerve

From faithful duty we will not swerve

For the red white and blue,

Yes we are soldiers true.

  
Verse Four

Land in France under cover of dark

Trenches are grim and rather stark

This is far from the promised lark

Of being soldiers true.

 

Verse Five

Come on lads, one last offence

Over the top, let battle commence

Looking back, did it ever make sense

To be soldiers true?

 

Refrain

For King and Country we signed to serve

To strain each muscle, sinew and nerve

From faithful duty we will not swerve

For the red white and blue,

Yes we are soldiers true.

 

Verse Six

One by one, to bullets we fell.

Amid the blood and gore and yells

On foreign fields we bid farewell

To being soldiers true

 

Final Refrain

 

For King and Country we signed to serve

To strain each muscle, sinew and nerve

From faithful duty….. we did not swerve

For the red white and blue,

Yes we died soldiers true.

We died soldiers true.

 

 

Wednesday 29 April 2015

Latest poem: Wavebourne

Wavebourne
 
To sail an ocean.
Take the old way,
the slow way
across the sphere.
Take in its scale,
unshrunk by flight,
sail for days and
not see another ship.
 
See the stars as
Columbus, Cook and Magellan
would have seen them,
distant candles
pinned in place by ancient orbits.
Feel the pull of the moon
in swell and tide,
translated through your feet.
 
Take a little salt in the lungs,
spray in the hair,
wonder in which key the waves sing.
Take breakfast at the table
nearest the sunrise
watching the wake of where you’ve been,
Think about how to start the next chapter
of your future history.

 

Tuesday 28 April 2015

Latest poem: Lunatic Fringe


Lunatic Fringe
 
A mild night seduction,
walked the two miles home and 
made the mistake of looking up.
 
The three-quarter moon
winked it’s Betty Davis eye,
half misted in chiffon haze.
 
Something in that hypnotic opaque gaze,
not quite scorn, not quite madness
graffitied my spirit,


set me free.