Members of the Norman Nicholson Society held a poetic party on Sunday to mark the 109th anniversary of the birth of their favourite poet, in the house where he was born and lived his entire life. The event, in Millom, Cumbria, featured a series of readings of Nicholson’s poetry, chosen for their striking relevance to the global crises of today despite the writer having died in 1987. The party began in the living room of Nicholson’s lifetime home, 14 St George’s Terrace, where an online audience joined in via Zoom. This first session ended with the playing of an audio recording of Nicholson reading one of his poems, The Whisperer. The in-person group then walked the short distance to St George’s Church, where Nicholson was once a regular member of the congregation, for more readings, tea, coffee, biscuits, and, of course, cake.
Chair of the Norman Nicholson Society Charlie Lambert said: ‘It was a really cheerful and enjoyable event, and very moving to hear Norman’s voice once again in his own environment’.
The Society has set up a community interest company, Norman Nicholson House CIC, to seek funding in order to buy the house and turn it into a museum, cafe and community hub. They are backed by the Architectural Heritage Fund which will match all money raised through an ongoing crowdfunding campaign, up to the end of this month (January 2023).
