Come on @andyburnham.bsky.social - astonish the brickwork.
Philip Larkin Society
@plsoc.bsky.social
Official account for the Philip Larkin Society at PhilipLarkin.com, promoting the work of Philip Larkin.
Rosie Millard wants us to 'Get a Hobby' and mulls over some quotes from Larkin's Required Writing. @plsoc.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/rosiemil...
Get a hobby
But please do not monetise it, put it on Instagram or give it a hashtag
open.substack.com
Larkin's 'Church Going' discussed on BBC Radio 4, at the tail end of Today. @plsoc.bsky.social The poem also lends its name to, and features in, a new R4 series on this morning ... www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Church Going, with Giles Fraser, Episode 1
Giles Fraser is on a mission to discover the current state of Christianity.
bbc.co.uk
Naomi Oba, the Young Warwickshire Poet Laureate for 2026, reads her poem, ‘Shelves of Wonder’ at the Larkin Tribute event, reminding us that libraries are magical places.
An inspirational afternoon at the Philip Larkin event at the Coventry Book Festival. PLS President, Rosie Millard, presents the first ever Philip Larkin Society Next Generation Award to the Red River Theatre Company for their production ‘Home Is So Sad’
We’re really looking forward to taking part in the Philip Larkin Tribute today at the Anglican Chapel, London Road Cemetery, Coventry as part of the Festival of Books. 3.00PM and free to attend.
Coventry, like Hull (and Belfast) has its ‘sudden elegances’
A lovely day at Coventry’s Book Festival at The Charterhouse, including a new short piece, Home Is So Sad’ by The Red River Theatre Company. Satisfyingly Larkinesque
Come along to our Meet the Members Zoom get together this Thursday at 7pm. The link was in May's newsletter to members and we will send it out again before Thursday. (The Lucky Jim Book Club will take place in the autumn- we got over excited about that, clearly an effect of the heat!)
If you want to know more about our wonderfully supportive Honorary Vice President Sir Tom Courtenay this is a good place to start.
www.rosiesretrobazaar.co.uk/coventry-fes... We’re looking forward to taking part in the Coventry Festival of Books next weekend. Larkin will have a definite presence. Free entry to most events if you have National Trust membership
On this day in 1948 the NHS was founded. Larkin's 1967 poem The Building may have had Hull Royal Infirmary in mind but is a universal meditation on hospitals and human frailty.
On the occasional Sunday morning some of us may be able to empathise with Amis's Jim Dixon, after a night of excess: 'He lay sprawled, too wicked to move, spewed up like a broken spider-crab on the tarry shingle of the morning...' (Lucky Jim, 1954)
The Society is run entirely by unpaid volunteers, and everything we do — our journal, podcasts, YouTube, events, and social media — is made possible by your subscriptions. We have ambitious plans to focus on the Next Generation of Larkin Readers. Please remember to renew your membership!
A fantastic postcard!
Hugh Jones@hbsj.bsky.social · 2mo agoHere's a #HigherEducationPostcard of @uniofhull.bsky.social Famously, poet Philip Larkin was the Librarian at the University I've lots of Hull cards so this will be #HullWeek If you like this image, I’d really appreciate a repost - remember, BlueSky has #NoAlgorithm
We we are saddened to hear of the passing of Rob Bell, Hull historian, and poet. In 2015 Rob took a leading role in ‘Sounding The Larkin Trail’, a wonderfully evocative evening of poetry and music as part of the Toads Revisted Festival youtu.be/8HFkt7lD23E?...
Toads Revisited: Sounding the Larkin Trail
YouTube video by Hull2017
youtu.be
We already know he loves Larkin- here's a view of Andy Burnham's wider love of literature from PLS HVP Blake Morrison www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
At a poet’s memorial, I saw how Andy Burnham could be a different kind of prime minister | Blake Morrison
The putative PM-to-be explained how one of Tony Harrison’s poems gave him a new outlook, says poet and author Blake Morrison
theguardian.com
Larkin @plsoc.bsky.social was commissioned to write 'Bridge for the Living' for the opening. Simon Armitage revisited the poem for Larkin's centenary in 2022, worth a listen.... www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Larkin Revisited - Bridge for the Living - BBC Sounds
Simon Armitage explores Bridge for the Living.
bbc.co.uk
Brian Groom@groomb.bsky.social · last mo.Humber Bridge opened on this day 1981, longest of its type in the world, now 12th longest. Plans first made 1930s, but money not found until 1966 Kingston upon Hull North by-election, when Harold Wilson prevailed on Barbara Castle, transport minister, to give the go-ahead.
It is with great sadness that the Philip Larkin Society shares the news of the passing of Carole Collinson. Carole was a long-standing trustee, serving as Events Organiser and Membership Secretary for many years, and was the driving force behind the Larkin statue at Hull's Paragon Station.
The excellent Frank Cottrell-Boyce referencing Larkin and the Sex Pistols (about 30 mins in) when talking about the concepts behind the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics - the nation as ‘a frail travelling coincidence’ www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
This Cultural Life - Frank Cottrell-Boyce - BBC Sounds
Writer and Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce reveals his cultural influences.
bbc.co.uk
Wonderful pictures- thank you for coming along.
HHelen Ireland @troyvisitor.bsky.social@troyvisitor.bsky.social · 2mo ago
Excellent and unforgettable day at @westminsterabbey.bsky.social today. @plsoc.bsky.social AGM in the historic Jerusalem Chamber first, then a tour of the Abbey, including Poets’ Corner. So much to take in and savour. Thanks to James, our Guide.
After a successful and enjoyable AGM at Westminster Abbey. PLS members had the opportunity to visit Poets’ Corner
Traveling to London for the AGM this morning and the chance to see Larkin's memorial stone which was placed in Westminster Abbey in 2016.
Larkin’s draft of ‘Song: The Three Ships’ is included in this lovely book published by the British Library. His first poetry workbook is deposited in the BL, the rest are in Hull History Centre.
In 1962, Larkin accompanied Jean Hartley to see Louis Armstrong at Bridlington Royal Spa.Writing to his mother Eva, Larkin said, “this was a very great thrill for me, as Armstrong is the Shakespeare of jazz even now, & I’ve never seen him before.'
We are very pleased to have @deanwilson.bsky.social new poetry collection in our hands, with a badge and a bookmark too! Officially endorsed by our Chair Graham Chesters.
