The Poets & Poetry of Hastings
OLI SPLEEN
Hastings is connected with some of the biggest names in British poetry. The history of poets residing in, or writing about, this area is remarkable. From Edward Lear to Christina Rossetti, Lewis Carroll to Spike Milligan. And in modern times, the poetic pulse of Hastings has never faded: Salena Godden, Iain Sinclair, Brian Moses to name a few. So many published and performing poets continue to be linked to 1066 country.
What’s more, even if not actually living here, many have found inspiration in the stories of places and people from the town, whether it be Grey Owl, John Logie Baird, the smugglers, famous residents like Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex, or Lady Byron. And yet. there is no Poetry Anthology to commemorate this extraordinary legacy! Until now.
In Summer 2025, The Poets and Poetry of Hastings will be published by Moth Light Press, an independent press that has previously published collections by local poets.
The book is currently in the planning stages. We are seeking permissions and accepting submissions (until the end of August). But some amazing Hastings-linked writers have already confirmed they would like to be included, such as Salena Godden, Henry Normal, Ken Edwards, Anne Rouse, Penny Pepper and Fiona Pitt-Kethley.
The book will, in addition, aim to celebrate the work of up-and-coming writers and beloved local poets who are no longer with us, like John Hendrickse, Bill Wyatt, Pete Brown and Martin Honeysett. There will also be illustrations by Ed Boxall – and hopefully a map of local places with a poetic connection!
You don’t have to be local to submit works. There will be a section on Hastings-themed poems. We need poems about: Jack-in-the-Green, Holidays in Hastings, local area landscapes, Alan Turing, May Day Bikers, Spike Milligan, John Logie Baird, Paula Yates, Screaming Lord Sutch, and any other great ideas you come up with!
Richard Newham-Sullivan, the editor of this anthology, says “Creating this book is like going on a huge poetry treasure hunt. As I research more and more, I have discovered that Hastings really is a sort of Poet Town: there are associations with poetry in every area, from John Keats staying at the Bo-Peep in St. Leonards, to Christina Rossetti falling in love on Pevensey Road. Some even say that the Owl and the Pussycat of Edward Lear’s famous poem set sail from the Marina Pavilion. Who knows?”
You can submit your poems here: tinyurl.com/HastingsPoetry, or contact the editor at: [email protected]
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Leave a Reply