Welcome to Suffolk Poetry Society

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2024 Programme of Events

Download the full programme of events. This will be updated as the programme develops.

Download an A5 flyer of events.

Tickets for events will be added to the shop in due course.

10th Festival of Suffolk Poetry

Friday 10 May: Online via Zoom

  • ‘Under the Influence’ – Read a known poem, then a poem of your own that was influenced by it, and discuss the connection.
  • ‘Open Mic’ – Share your poems.

Saturday 11 May: 10.00am-7.00pm Live

  • Open Mic
  • Poetry Cafés
  • Close Reading from Fiona Clark
  • Colin Whyles on Creativity and AI
  • Featured SPS Poets: Roger White and Sheila Lockhart
  • Readings from Annie Freud and MW Bewick

With headline poets

Annie Freud + MW Bewick

John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, IP14 1ET

George Crabbe Poetry Competition 2024

Closing deadline:
Midnight, Friday 14 June 2024

Total prizes: £950

Luke Wright
Luke Wright

Adjudicator: Luke Wright

After a quarter of a century on stages across the world Luke Wright is a poet and raconteur at the top of his game. 

Both brazen and elegiac, Wright’s poems pull on the tidy hem of responsible existence to unravel the frustrations of the family, politics and masculinity in 21st century Britain. 

He marries his inventive writing with breathtaking performance skills to take audiences on an incredible emotional journey. He’s the regular tour support for John Cooper Clarke and often MCs shows for The Libertines. He’s a regular on Radio 4 and has won a Fringe First for writing , a Stage Award for performance, and four Saboteur Awards.

“His performances rumble with rage, passion and humour.” Guardian

extraordinary and eloquent.” Scotsman

Enter the competition online here.

Download an entry form here.

Annual General Meeting

Sunday 17 March 2024 3.00pm

No.11 Market Place
No.11 Market Place

The John Peel Centre @ 11, Market Place, Stowmarket

After the business of the AGM, members will read on the topic of ‘The Body Electric’.

Read more about the AGM and register your FREE ticket here.

Annual SPS Members’ Reading at Walpole Old Chapel

Sunday 09 June 3.00pm

Walpole Old Chapel
Walpole Old Chapel

Walpole Old Chapel, 2 Halesworth Road, Walpole, Halesworth, IP19 9AZ

National Poetry Day

Thursday 03 October 3.00pm

Aldeburgh Beach South Lookout,
31 Crag Path, Aldeburgh, IP15 5BS

Members will read poems on the National Poetry Day theme.

Competition Awards Presentation

Saturday 05 October 3.00pm

Annual General Meeting

Sunday 17 March 2024 3.00pm

No.11 Market Place
No.11 Market Place

The John Peel Centre @ 11, Market Place, Stowmarket

After the business of the AGM, members will read on the topic of ‘The Body Electric’.

Read more about the AGM and register your FREE ticket here.

10th Festival of Suffolk Poetry

Friday 10 May: Online via Zoom

  • ‘Under the Influence’ – Read a known poem, then a poem of your own that was influenced by it, and discuss the connection.
  • ‘Open Mic’ – Share your poems.

Saturday 11 May: 10.00am-7.00pm Live

  • Open Mic
  • Poetry Cafés
  • Close Reading from Fiona Clark
  • Colin Whyles on Creativity and AI
  • Featured SPS Poets: Roger White and Sheila Lockhart
  • Readings from Annie Freud and MW Bewick

With headline poets

Annie Freud +
MW Bewick

John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, IP14 1ET

Annual SPS Members’ Reading at Walpole Old Chapel

Sunday 09 June 3.00pm

Walpole Old Chapel
Walpole Old Chapel

Walpole Old Chapel, 2 Halesworth Road, Walpole, Halesworth, IP19 9AZ

George Crabbe Poetry Competition 2024

Closing deadline:
Midnight, Friday 14 June 2024

Total prizes: £950

Luke Wright
Luke Wright

Adjudicator:
Luke Wright

After a quarter of a century on stages across the world, Luke Wright is a poet and raconteur at the top of his game. 

Both brazen and elegiac, Wright’s poems pull on the tidy hem of responsible existence to unravel the frustrations of the family, politics and masculinity in 21st century Britain.

Enter the competition online here.

Download an entry form here.

National Poetry Day

Thursday 03 October 3.00pm

Aldeburgh Beach South Lookout,
31 Crag Path, Aldeburgh, IP15 5BS

Members will read poems on the National Poetry Day theme.

Competition Awards Presentation

Saturday 05 October 3.00pm


Gift Aid and SPS

Gift Aid on subscriptions and donations is very helpful to SPS’s finances and cost members and donors nothing.


Turning Japanese

Download or read online Dr Tim Gardiner’s guide to short-form Japanese poetry.

Ripples Poems: Selections by Elizabeth Cook

Ripples is a regular online magazine to which Suffolk Poetry Society members contribute to share their poems, as well as present and discuss favourite poems by other poets.

Ripples was born when we were locked-down and prevented from meeting all but those in our immediate households – a time of much loneliness, fear, and sadness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Poems – both serious and comic – began to pour in, and the best of these were published in the magazine. The poems show the range and quality of poetry written by our members.

In celebration of this and also the 70th anniversary of SPS, 70 of the best poems from the more than 200 that were published in Ripples have been selected here.

Elizabeth Cook


Join Suffolk Poetry Society

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Renew Your Subscription Quickly

You can renew your subscription quickly and simply here.

9th Festival Photos

Here are links to the photographs taken during the live day of the festival on Saturday, 13 May 2023:
Workshops, Afternoon, Open Mic, Evening.

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