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2007 – Warwick
A Larkin Sunday Morning Trail – by Don Lee.
7 October 2007
[From About Larkin 25, April 2008]
As part of the Warwick Literary and Arts Festival in Autumn 2007, the Philip Larkin Society was again invited by its Director, Richard Phillips, to organise the Warwick Larkin Sunday Morning Trail. Our Cornwall member, Cherry Pyke, was on hand to take the photographs. The highlight of the walk was the visit to the one-time Larkin family home at Coten End, where morning refreshments were kindly provided by Roger and Sarah Beckett, the current owners of no. 73.
The back garden of 73 Coten End. The top left window is Philip's room,
where he wrote the early poems, the 'Brunette' works, Jill and A Girl in Winter.
To the right was a wartime Army drill hall.
Philip constantly complains in his letters about noisy soldiers.
The fully subscribed party, which I led and Gloria Gaffney back-marked, enjoyed a fine, crisp Autumn morning stroll through Larkin-land. Accompanying us was Midland poet, Michael Wyndham Thomas, who chose some relevant readings; and as an unexpected bonus the Society's media officer, Wendy Cole, delivered her St Trinians rendering of some Brunette Coleman material, which will not be forgotten in a hurry.
Michael Wyndham Thomas reads Wendy Cole Photographs © Cherry Pyke 2007
As usually happens on these walks, I was able to glean some fresh facts and insights that will add to the value of a Larkin/Warwick trail, when it is eventually published.
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