News of a writing circle that is to be launched in the Bay in February 2014, reached us today (13 November).
The information released indicated that the steering group involved in establishing the circle has already put into position a plan that includes the hiring of space in a hall and the first stages of shaping up how the circle will work.
Talking to Bay Life, one of the organisers said ‘we are very excited about setting up a writers group of some description and are busy seeing exactly what shape it will take’.
Already there appears to be interest in the idea and input from some people who have experience of working close by in Eastbourne with a similar group.
Pevensey and the Bay of course is no stranger to work with the written word.
The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis, eagled eyes readers will have noticed, utilised ‘Pevensie’ as the family name given to the children. Kipling has a long association with Pevensey and the notion of the Castle as ‘England’s Gate’ comes from Puck of Pook’s Hill.
With writers like Christina Rossetti quoting visits to Pevensey Castle in her dairy and the long association of Pre-Raphaelite painters with the Bay and people like Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers drawing inspiration from time spent here, the group is not going to be short of key references and sources of material in which the locality forms a backdrop to their meetings.
Both Pevensey and the Bay are noted for the number of creative associations that are based here. Singing, Art, History, Flowers and Photography all have associations attached to the calendar year, with meetings, exhibitions and other events as part of the way in which the subjects profile through various groups.
Anderida WI also has a thriving noticeboard of events which includes talks.
The new writing circle looks like it will be in good company when it launches in the Bay next February.
From talking to the organisers this morning, if their conversation, experiences and plans are anything to go by, we could be in for a treat. Any writing that emerges will no doubt be infused with the distinct local landscape to a certain extent.
Who knows, a modern classic may emerge.
The new creative group will be taking its place in the Bay and our very own little local arts and craft movement that has informed activity here for over a hundred years.
