Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?

Subject: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: GUEST,Poet's Day
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 04:59 PM

Sign the Number 10 petition if you think Les should hold this position...

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/LesBarkerPoet/

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 05:06 PM

What's happened to the last/present one then? Is there a vacancy?

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Betsy
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 07:34 PM

Done

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 07:50 PM

Sorry I'm from the wrong side of the pond, and, being long legged, I can climb those stairs anyway :)!
Woof!

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 07:56 PM

Andrew Motion finishes his stint This Year Mo !

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: MaineDog
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 08:06 PM

To be fair I must claim the above post signed "Woof"
MD

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: John J
Date: 11 Jan 09 - 07:33 PM

Done.

JJ

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Snuffy
Date: 11 Jan 09 - 07:54 PM

John J, Betsy (and maybe others)

Your names won't show up on the petition until you open the Government email and click on the link to confirm that you've signed.

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: GUEST,Geordie-Peorgie (nee fl*ppin' cookie again!!
Date: 11 Jan 09 - 08:22 PM

Aah'm in an' aah've e-mailed it all ower the world

Aah hope yez are aall deein' the same

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Dead Horse
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 02:08 AM

Good lord NO.
The poor bugger has enough to contend with being a folk idol :-)

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: mouldy
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 05:09 AM

All done.
Les for Laureate!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 05:37 AM

Just signed it. Les is appearing at Ringwood Folk Club tomorrow evening, Tuesday 13th, with the Warwick Slade Collective as the support act.

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Acorn4
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 06:05 AM

We played a support slot for LB on Saturday for a "GuideCats" gig, and he was in fine form.

Does it mean that he'll have to put on a suit and meet the Queen though?

Maybe they could arrange for a Mrs Ackroyd reunion to do the "Bohemian Rhapsody" parody.

All signed and I'm circulating every one on my mailing list.

The Warwick Slade Collective sounds good - I've always wanted to promote Messrs Lea and Holder as contributors to the folk tradition -not so daft as it sounds "My oh My" is based on a folk tune!

Dave T

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: r.padgett
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 06:10 AM

Done

Maybe we will through Les get a higher profile for poetry in general for the masses and the folky people!

Ray

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Grampus
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 12:41 PM

I've signed too, but it'll need a lot more.

GET SIGNING !!!

Click Here

G.

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Mr Red
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 01:02 PM

Is a crate of malmsey (or is it sac?) wise in his condition? Still it is only one crate for the whole stint (not sure how big) - which is how many years?

A small point but some have signed as a couple.
It would count per person if signed indivually, but not (Knowing how petitions work) if signed jointly.

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: GUEST,Ian
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 01:42 PM

The poet Laureate has been Andrew Motion, Ted Hughes, John Betjemen (is that spelt correctly?)

All of whom have an air of smoking jackets, receptions at Sandringham and quaffing Chateau Lorionde 87.

That bugger has an air of chasing my ex wife around a stage brandishing a cucumber and leaving dog hairs in our spare bed. (1981.)

Ok, I'll vote for him.

Incidentally, comedy and parody apart, his work does deserve better recognition from the establishment. "Will you walk with me" and "Candlelight and Wine" are stunning pieces of work...

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Wild Flying Dove
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 01:51 PM

I just love the idea so I've voted!

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 02:34 PM

I have voted for LB also,if only because we shall never see the like of John Masefield or John Betjeman in these talentless, dumbed-down times again-----besides which,LB is VERY talented,and VERY funny, although why some of you have to get on your high horses about the possibility of a Poet Laureate enjoying fine wines,or wearing a Smoking Jacket ,is beyond me ! ---Are you STILL riddled with class angst, or what ??What if Les Barker wore a smoking-jacket and drank Champagne ?? Would you lynch him for it ?? HA !! Morons !!Plebs !!

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: GUEST,danensis
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 02:37 PM

Perhaps the Queen would wear a cardigan so he felt at home

John

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: My guru always said
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 03:09 PM

Fab idea, I'm in!

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: GUEST,flying cat
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 04:24 PM

me too,love, moira

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 04:32 PM

I rather hope that he'd 'do a Larkin' and decline it, if offered...

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: mandotim
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 07:06 PM

I'm in.
Tim

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 07:13 PM

I guess I'll sign it too, but has anyone thought of asking Les whether he wants to be nominated............? He may have similar views (on having to provide poems to mark national occasions) as Wendy Cope.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 07:24 PM

Knowing Les, he would provide the necessary touch of humour and humanity, to bring the royals back into the public's heart, where they belong.

A national institution saved by a national institution. How bad can that be?

Go Les
Don T.

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 07:28 PM

I have signed it. I see that Tom Bliss has signed with the caveat "If he wants it"! Lots of signatory names that I recognise.....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 07:35 PM

Sorry, but he CANNOT decline !" Noblesse Oblige," don't you know ??

      PS....Karen & I are looking forward to seeing and hearing you both at Knowle Hill on Thursday next--Will Derek be wearing shorts (OOOHH !) despite the weather ??

                   Nick E Nackinou

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 07:44 PM

Well, Br, I don't think Derek will be singing on Thursday without his shorts on.... it might upset Mrs Admiral Pearl. Apologies for thread drift, though I suspect Les Barker would find a suitable poem for the occasion.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 07:51 PM

I wouldn't wish being Poet Laureate on my worst enemy.

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Acorn4
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 07:19 AM

I'm attaching part of an email I got from Clive Lever yesterday.

Clive was the moving force behind the "Guide Cats for the Blind" CD project, which featured a range of Les's poetry on 3 albums.

It's just about getting Les's poems more widely known to the general public.


"I think there's more to the manifesto for this political party than calling for Les to be made poet laureate. Perhaps we can try to make the following happen, by emailing some of these ideas to all those who may be visiting the website to sign up to such a campaign:

* all petitioners who sign up to write individually and without reference to any other petitioner, to BBC Radio 4's Poetry Please, asking for their favourite Les Barker poem to be featured on the programme. Note though that care must be taken as to how this is done, as they are likely to shy away from anything if they think there's an organised campaign, so we need to fool them into thinking that each person who writes has nothing to do with the rest...so no references to the petition, no standard letters.
* Pat Tynan has put up Brian Perkins' Shipping forecast on Youtube, and today uploaded Charlotte Green's Voicemail."

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: r.padgett
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 10:42 AM

He cannot refuse!!

WE flippin need him, we folkies rely on him to make us laugh,

Now let the Nation in on our best kept treasure!

his material has already been used by certain celebrities

Ray

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Steve Hunt
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 01:21 PM

Don wrote: "Knowing Les, he would provide the necessary touch of humour and humanity, to bring the royals back into the public's heart, where they belong."

I, for one, would be very disappointed if he did! The idea of a genius like Les agreeing to become the official mouthpiece of the establishment, and then using his incredible talents to raise the popularity of a small cabal of powerful, un-elected aristocrats is little short of revolting IMO.

Right, now I've got that off my chest, I can go back to listening to something Bulgarian recorded for Topic by A.L. Lloyd from back in the 'good old days'...

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: GUEST,Warwick Slade
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 05:55 AM

I saw Les, live, for the first time last night while playing support with The Warwick Slade Collective.
He was great. I have signed and will canvass any one I know. (about 3 people)

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 08:50 AM

As a member of the aforementioned Collective, I was at Les's Ringwood gig last night. I asked him if he'd lije to be the Poet Laureate and his response was that, if chosen, he'd really enjoy putting establishment noses out of joint. (Not his exact words, but that was the gist of it!)

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: r.padgett
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 09:23 AM

Good for him!!

Ray

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Acorn4
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 01:01 PM

And a few ears out of joint as well one would hope!

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Grampus
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 05:05 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Acorn4
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 06:41 AM

I've been asked by Clive Lever of "Guidecats" to update Les's entry in Wikipedia - I've made a start on this and hope to have it finished by the end of the weekend, when I've got used to all the "bells and whistles" on Wikipedia.

If anyone else wants to contribute/edit, Wikipedia is of couses open source.

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 07:02 AM

I think Les Barker should be Prime Minister..not just Poet Laureate. :0)

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 09:34 AM

When this was first mooted back in the late Summer, it was met with responses like: "Great idea", but "Not much chance though".

And then I thought about it and came to the conclusion that this is not such a silly idea after all.

Assuming Les wants it, it is entirely possible.

Just think how many people know and love Les's work on the folk scene alone. It must run into several million. And then there is all the exposure he has had on mainstream radio because of the Guide Cats albums. There are a lot of very heavyweight broadcasters who think he is the dogs doodahs.

However you look at it, any other candidates are likely to be virtually unknown to most of us other then a few Radio 3 listeners.

It's about time we had The People's Poet as laureate.

I did hear somewhere that it was to be a public vote this time. Anybody know?

Whatever, if all his fans did vote, he'd walk it.

Just think of all those late night telly programmes with those up-their-own-arses arty types, and Les bringing some much needed levity to the proceedings.

Priceless.

G

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Acorn4
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 08:42 PM

There is also now a Myspace page for "Guidecats" - fairly basic at the moment but at least up and running:-

http://www.myspace.com/guidecatsfortheblind

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Acorn4
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 04:09 AM

Clive Lever of "Guidecats" has penned this which he has asked me to post:-

Where is Les?

Everywhere I hear Pam Ayres.

Michael Rosen's poetry,

I keep hearing plenty of.



Where is he?

Not on Radio Four or three.

Won't our national radio

Play Les's poetry?



Pam's been featured on Q I,

Someone tell that Stephen Fry,

Of those cats that guide

He's overdue

For being seen on Two,

Where... where... is Les?



Why they still don't know his shy "'ello"

Is life's great mystery.



McGough is heard on Radio 4,

Ask for rhymes that you adore,

He'll play Spike I'm sure,

Macmillan too,

Andrew Motion for you,

But where ... where... is Les?



(Tune: Where is love? (Lionel Bart)





Brian Perkins does crazy things with the shipping forecast: On YouTube at:

Brian Perkins "Shipping Forecast"


And Charlotte Green poses as the Voicemail messenger from hell at:

Charlotte Green "Voicemail"

Check out the videos, get the albums at www.bcab.org.uk.

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: vectis
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 09:23 PM

Last link not working Acorn

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Acorn4
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 05:14 AM

forgot the "http", didn't I - "when will I ever learn?

http://www.bcab.org.uk

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: GUEST,Anonymous Willie
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 12:08 PM

Yeah, I have voted for him, using my real name, (takes ll the fun out it...)

Mind you, the question was posed above, about a peoples poet. 30 years ago, I would have put John Cooper Clarke on that pedestal.

S.W.H.

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: GUEST,danensis
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 04:53 PM

Not to mention Benjamin Zephaniah

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 09:15 AM

Me email 'ad a glitch last week but its fixed now, so I'm all aigned up!

Any more for any more?

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 09:17 AM

Hmmmnnn, can't see Les's name there?

Subject: RE: Les Barker as the next Poet Laureate?
From: Acorn4
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 01:31 PM

According to Les's Wikipedia page, it's his birthday tomorrow.

Shall we all send him an email:-

[e-mail]