Word Up!

Friday, 31 January 2025 12:54

By Madeleine Sanderson

A thriving poetry reading event in Tunbridge Wells has led to one poet having her work published.

Lizzie Rose (pictured here) told West Kent Radio that the event has been an "absolute lifeline" for her.

She told our reporter Madeleine Sanderson that "everyone is welcome" at the readings and the contributors range from teenagers to people in their eighties.

Lizzie Rose says she mainly writes about her own life. 

She says she had been writing for 36 years before she finally got up to speak at Word Up!  Within a year, she has had a book of her poetry published.

You can listen to Madeleine Sanderson's first report here:

In a second report, Dan Culmer (founder of a hip-hop record label called Defcon) tells Madeleine Sanderson why he set up Word Up 30 years ago. 

It started at the Forum but is now held in the Old Auction House in Tunbridge Wells on the first Wednesday of every month.

Dan Culmer says "We are giving young people a voice...and people who feel they're not heard - a voice".

He says: "We have so many people who don't sign up to the open mic at the start but then say they want to read before the end of the evening".

Listen here to the second report which also hears from organiser and poet Hannah Gee.

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