Poet Laureate Streams Readings in Belper Library

Poet laureate Simon Armitage is to visit Derbyshire’s newest library this month.

18:58 22 April 2021

Poet laureate Simon Armitage has recently launched his national A-Z Libraries Tour to give readings from his work. He will be at the Belper Library this month after he has accepted an invitation from Derbyshire County Council. 

The event was originally planned for last year but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year's event will be live-streamed on April 26, rather than in front of a live audience. 

 

Together with award-winning poet Helen Mort, Simon will be reading some of his poetry and sharing it with the online audience.

 

Simon said: “My tour celebrates libraries which give so much to our local communities – be those communities big and urban or rural and remote. Libraries have given me so much as well and this is a way of saying thank you. I am looking forward to my visit to Belper as part of this tour”.

 

Michelle Parker, acting head of libraries at the county council, said: “Hosting the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage on his national tour is a real coup and it’s a double bonus to have our former Derbyshire Poet Laureate there as well. Whilst we would of course prefer it to be a live event we are delighted that it can go ahead.”

 

The free event is scheduled on Monday, April 26 from 4pm to 5pm.