Poet laureate reads at Clare College tonight

The poet laureate Andrew Motion is coming to Clare College, Cambridge, today to join five other eminent modern poets and writers in an evening of literature and music to raise funds for the church and community at Little Gidding.

Little Gidding, near Huntingdon, has been the site of a Christian community since 1636. It was founded by a fellow of Clare College, Nicholas Ferrar. Little Gidding shot to fame when the American poet T. S. Eliot visited in July 1941 and wrote ‘Little Gidding’, the fourth part of his major oeuvre ‘Four Quartets’. This was published by Faber and Faber in 1942.

The evening will be attended by T. S. Eliot’s widow Valerie, his second wife, who lives in Kensington and is in charge of her late husband’s estate The evening will mostly feature 17th century poetry and music, but will end with a reading of Eliot’s ‘Little Gidding’. Other eminent poets and writers taking part in the evening are George Szirtes, Grevel Lilndop, Peter Scupham, Jem Poster and Hugo Williams.

The aim of the event is to raise awareness of the work of Little Gidding and funds for Ferrar House, and to help with the restoration of the church. The Little Gidding community is today still a centre of pilgrimage and retreat, as well as a community centre.

The Reverend Roger Greeves, Dean of Chapel at Clare College, who organised the event, said: “The Little Gidding community is very worthy of support. It offers an increasingly rare facility for people to meet in an atmosphere of reflection, which is important in our busy and troubled world. At Clare College we feel a particular connection with Little Gidding as it was founded by Nicholas Ferrar, a fellow of Clare College.”

Where: Clare College Chapel, Trinity Lane, Cambridge

When: Thursday November 17, 8.30pm

Entry: Open to all, free

Clare College tel: 01223 333200