School to play host to poetry president

By Jenny Barwise

Last updated 11:48, Friday, 10 October 2008

A POETRY president will visit Cockermouth School to celebrate poetry and science this month.

Poet: Michael Baron

Cockermouth School Association has teamed up with Cockermouth Café Scientifique for the event in the school’s Eco Centre on October 20.

Jo Shapcott, president of the Poetry Society, and Professor Robert Crawford, author and poet from St Andrew’s University, will be making the link between poetry and science at the event.

The evening will also feature poetry by Cockermouth poet Michael Baron, entitled On a Bat’s Wing, which will be read by Cockermouth School sixth form students, Harriet Wilson and Sam

Hetherington.

Headteacher Stuart Reeves said: “We are thrilled to have such eminent speakers at this event along side our own students.

“It is important to make the link at secondary school between the arts and science and to understand that neither is mutually exclusive.

“Many poets have been inspired by science and the universe, and many scientists are inspired by the arts.”

The aim of the event is to establish a Junior Café Scientifique as an after school club for young people in the town and students at the school.

Dr Ann Lackie, who runs the Cockermouth Café Scientifique, said: “We are very keen to show that science is full of exciting ideas that can inspire poets and writers as well as opening our eyes and ears to new ways of understanding the world.

“I’m always keen to encourage young people as well as established writers and poets to use modern science in their writing.”

The free event starts at 7pm. Places can be reserved by contacting Dr Lackie on 016973 21967.

The evening has been sponsored by Cumbria Community Foundation, Neighbourhood Forum, the local writers’ group SLATE and James Walker and Co Ltd.

JBarwise@cngroup.co.uk