Fire River Poets Presents: Anthony Watts and Jane Lovell

Fire River Poets are delighted to welcome two distinctive and accomplished poets, Anthony Watts and Jane Lovell, for a special evening of poetry. Join us for an inspiring celebration of two very different but equally compelling poetic voices, exploring landscape, nature, memory and our relationship with the world around us.

Anthony Watts

Although a Londoner by birth, Anthony Watts has lived in rural Somerset for most of his life, and its varying terrains – from the Quantock Hills to the Levels – have informed much of his poetry.

Upon his retirement from local government in 2003, Anthony held the distinction of being Somerset County Library’s longest-serving member. He is also a founder member of Fire River Poets, where he remains a regular participant in the monthly open mics.

Anthony’s latest collection, Stiles, is published by Paekakariki Press. His other collections include The Talking Horses of Dreams (Iron Press) and The Shell-Gatherer (Oversteps).

His poetry has enjoyed considerable success in competitions, with 28 First Prizes to his name, as well as being longlisted for the National Poetry Competition in 2014. His poems have appeared widely in magazines and anthologies.

Anthony’s interests include poetry, music, nature and “binge thinking”.

Jane Lovell

Jane Lovell, winner of the Ginkgo Prize, explores humanity’s complex relationship with nature – its beauty, fragility and resilience.

Her latest collection, Tipping Point, was shortlisted for the prestigious 2026 Laurel Prize. The collection draws on subjects ranging from polar exploration and ancestral traditions to ecological change, examining the ways in which human lives are connected to the natural world.

Jane lives on the edge of the Valley of Rocks and writes extensively about Exmoor, its distinctive landscapes and its birdlife. Her poetry reflects a close and thoughtful engagement with place, while also asking wider questions about our responsibilities to the environment and the changing world we inhabit.

An Evening of Poetry

This Fire River Poets event brings together two poets with a strong connection to landscape and nature, yet with distinctive perspectives and poetic voices.

From Anthony Watts’s intimate engagement with the Somerset countryside, shaped by a lifetime spent among its hills, levels and communities, to Jane Lovell’s powerful exploration of ecological change, Exmoor and humanity’s relationship with the natural world, the evening promises a rich and varied programme of poetry.

Whether you are a regular poetry reader, a practising writer, or simply curious about contemporary poetry, we invite you to join us for an enjoyable evening of readings, conversation and a shared appreciation of the written word.

All are welcome.

Fire River Poets with special guest Katie Griffiths present Poetry on a Sunday Afternoon.

This special in-person event takes place at Brendon Books, Taunton on Sunday 18^th October, 2pm – 4pm.

Join us for an inspiring afternoon of poetry featuring prize-winning poet Katie Griffiths launching her new collection Mindset, Mindrise alongside Somerset’s long-established poetry group Fire River Poets. 

A perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon…

Katie Griffiths grew up in Canada in a family originally from Northern Ireland. She is author of The Attitudes (Nine Arches Press) and the prize-winning My Shrink is Pregnant (Live Canon). A second collection from Nine Arches, Mindset Mindrise, is out this autumn. She won the Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Prize in 2024, and came second in 2018’s National Poetry Competition. Katie runs monthly live poetry sessions in Walton-on-Thames that bring poets of national standing to the stage of Riverhouse Barn. She regularly mentors and runs workshops, and is also a serious dabbler in music.

To book, click this link: Brendon Books online ticket sales powered by TicketSource

Dear Poets,

This is just a reminder of Katie Griffiths’ poetry workshop in Stogumber Village Hall on Saturday 17^th October, 10am – 4.30pm.

If you attended any of her workshops in previous years you will know what an inspiring mentor and poet Katie is. She is the author of two collections of poetry, was runner-up in the National Poetry Competition 2018 and won The Gregory O’Donoghue Award in 2023.

Katie’s working theme and focus for the day is Disguise/Reveal, a rich theme with a great dynamic for us to explore. There a few places left and you can book a place for £25 via bank transfer to:

Fire River Poets Taunton Poetry Group

09-06-66

43254835

Stogumber Village Hall is a lovely venue with some parking (with more nearby) and there will be free tea/coffee/biscuits available all day.

Best wishes

Graeme Ryan

Fire River Poets