The life and work of Swindon poet Alfred Williams is to be commemorated in his hometown next month.
The poet created his early works during spare time from his gruelling Railway Works job
Williams was known as the Hammerman Poet because he balanced much of his literary career with his job at the Steam Hammer Shop in the Railway Works, lived from 1877 to 1930.
Enthusiasts say only celebrated Victorian nature writer Richard Jefferies can vie with him to be regarded as Swindon's greatest literary figure.
On Sunday, 27 March at the Beehive pub, he will be celebrated in a tribute beginning at 3pm.
Dozens of local singers and musicians will perform poetry, songs and prose by Williams, collected by him or inspired by him or his local area.
Announcing the gathering, the organisers said: "He is nationally important. So he deserves a little celebration.
"Songs about the Railway Works, songs about the local pubs, or the canal. The Hex Collective from Oxford have been putting music to songs that haven't survived with the original, The Farriers from Fairford have been resurrecting Gloucestershire songs, SGO perform songs from the Swindon area, Steve Cox brings gritty industrial realism to the mic, the Bellflowers bring harmony. It's the least he deserves."
In addition to being an acclaimed and respected poet, Williams was an author and collector of folk songs.
Leaving school at the age of eight, he worked as a human scarecrow and farm labourer before securing a job at the Railway Works.
Using the library at the Mechanics Institute, he taught himself Latin, Greek, and French in order to be able to read classic literature in its original languages.
In spare hours after the gruelling work day, he produced his most famous work, Life in a Railway Factory, which was published in 1915.
Retiring from the Works, he spent his time cycling through the countryside of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, talking to old men to collect the folk songs of their areas.
More than 1000 songs which would otherwise have been lost were collected in Folk Songs of the Upper Thames, which was published in 1923.
Further information about the Alfred Williams celebration and other Beehive events can be found at https://beehive.buswebservers.co.uk/?page_id=18
Your Comments
Be the first to comment on this article
Login or Register to post a comment on this article