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Posts by Stephen Claughton

With less than a week to go, we're looking forward to hearing The Booming Lovelies read in St Albans Library on Saturday. It's free & open to all and there will be an open mic at the end (sign up on the day from 10.30).
#spokenwordpoetry #openmic #poetrycommunity #spokenpoetry

21 hours ago 1 1 0 0

Only two weeks left to enter your poems for the Ver Poets Open Competition 2026, judged by Vanessa Lampert. It closes on 30th April.

4 days ago 1 1 0 0
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Jeanette Burton's poem, "My mum accidentally leaves me a seven-minute message on WhatsApp", was commended in the Ver Poets Open Competition 2025, judged by Rory Waterman.
This year's competition, judged by Vanessa Lampert, closes on 30th April. For details see: verpoets.wixsite.com/verpoets/com....

1 week ago 2 1 0 0

Only three weeks left to enter your poems for the Ver Poets Open Competition 2026, judged by Vanessa Lampert. It closes on 30th April.

1 week ago 2 1 0 0
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The Booming Lovelies – Heather Moulson, Trisha Broomfield and Sharron Green – will be our guests on Saturday 25th April at 11.00 am in St Albans Library.

Sign up on the day from 10.30 am for the open mic (first come, first served). The event is free and open to all.

1 week ago 1 1 0 1

There's only a month to go to enter your poems for this year's Ver Poets Open Competition, judged by Vanessa Lampert. The closing date is 30th April. Entry details are on our website at: verpoets.wixsite.com/verpoets/com...

2 weeks ago 2 1 0 0
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Kathy Pimlott's poem, "How I do the grieving a few years on", was commended in the Ver Poets Open Competition 2025, judged by Rory Waterman. To enter this year's competition, which will be judged by Vanessa Lampert, go to verpoets.wixsite.com/verpoets/com.... The closing date is 30th April.

3 weeks ago 6 2 1 0
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We had a full house on Wednesday for our evening of poetry at The Saint & Sinner in St Albans, when our featured poet was John Hussey. Our thanks to John and all the other excellent readers, as well as to everyone who came to support the event.

1 month ago 2 1 1 0

Just a week to go to our open mic at The Saint & Sinner in St Albans on Wednesday 18th March at 7.30 pm. #spokenwordpoetry #openmic #poetrycommunity #spokenpoetry

1 month ago 2 1 0 0
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Alison Allen's poem, "High Fliers", was commended in the Ver Poets Open Competition 2025, judged by Rory Waterman.

To enter this year's competition, which will be judged by Vanessa Lampert, visit our website at: verpoets.wixsite.com/verpoets/com.... The closing date is 30th April.

1 month ago 1 1 0 0
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We were very pleased to have Matthew Stewart and Mat Riches read to us in St Albans on Saturday. This poem is from Matthew's latest book, "Whatever you do, just don't", published by HappenStance Press.

1 month ago 12 3 0 1
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We were very pleased to have Mat Riches and Matthew Stewart read to us in St Albans on Saturday. This poem is from Mat's pamphlet, "Collecting the Data", published by Red Squirrel Press.

1 month ago 8 3 0 1
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Join us at The Saint & Sinner pub in St Albans on Wednesday 18th March at 7.30 pm for an evening of open-mic poetry, when our featured poet will be John Hussey. It's free and open to all. Sign up on the night from 7.00 pm, if you want to read, or come early just to enjoy some food and drink.

1 month ago 2 2 0 1

Only two months left to enter the Ver Poets Open Competition, judged by Vanessa Lampert. It closes on 30th April.

1 month ago 2 2 1 0

We were delighted to welcome Matthew Stewart and Mat Riches to our reading in St Albans Library on Saturday morning.

Matthew's latest book, "Whatever you do, just don't", is published by HappenStance Press. Mat's pamphlet, "Collecting the Data", is published by Red Squirrel Press.

1 month ago 4 1 0 0
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Don't forget that Matthew Stewart and Mat Riches will be reading to us tomorrow (Saturday) in St Albans Library at 11.00 am. It's free and open to all with an open mic at the end (sign up on the day from 10.30 am).

1 month ago 2 2 0 0
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Richard Side's poem, "Way to go", was highly commended in the Ver Poets Open Competition 2025, judged by Rory Waterman.

To enter this year's competition, which will be judged by Vanessa Lampert, visit our website at: verpoets.wixsite.com/verpoets/com.... The closing date is 30th April.

1 month ago 1 1 0 0
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In less than a week, we'll be welcoming Matthew Stewart and Mat Riches, who are reading to us in St Albans Library on Saturday 28th February at 11.00am. It's free and open to all with an open mic at the end (sign up on the day from 10.30am; first come, first served).

1 month ago 2 1 0 1
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Entries are invited for the Ver Poets Open Competition 2026, judged by Vanessa Lampert, with prizes of £600, £300 and £100. Winning and selected poems will be published in the competition anthology. The closing date is 30th April. Details are on our website at: verpoets.wixsite.com/verpoets/com....

2 months ago 2 1 0 4
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Just two weeks to go to the reading by Matthew Stewart and Mat Riches in St Albans Library on Saturday 28 February at 11.00am. It's free and open to all with an open mic at the end (sign up on the day from 10.30am; first come, first served). #spokenwordpoetry #openmic #poetrycommunity #spokenpoetry

2 months ago 4 1 0 0
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Thea Smiley's poem, "The Swallows have Returned to the Barn", was highly commended in the Ver Poets Open Competition 2025, judged by Rory Waterman. To enter this year's competition, which will be judged by Vanessa Lampert, go to verpoets.wixsite.com/verpo…. The closing date is 30th April.

2 months ago 1 1 0 0
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We had a great evening of poetry last night, when we held our first Zoom open mic. Our featured poet, David Van-Cauter, read poems from his new pamphlet, "Breathing", which is published by Arenig Press.

3 months ago 1 1 1 0
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Don't forget our Zoom open mic this Wednesday (14th January) at 7.30 pm, with featured poet David Van-Cauter. It's free and open to all. If you're not a member of Ver Poets, you can get a link by emailing us at verpoets@gmail.com. Please say if you would like to read (first come, first served).

3 months ago 2 1 0 0
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We're holding a poetry open mic via Zoom on Wednesday 14th January at 7.30 pm, when our featured poet will be David Van-Cauter. His latest book is "Breathing" (Arenig Press).

The event is free and open to all. Please email verpoets@gmail.com for a link and say if you would like a reading slot.

3 months ago 10 4 0 0
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Mark Totterdell won third prize in our 2025 Open Competition, judged by Rory Waterman, with his poem, "Bus".

4 months ago 1 1 0 0
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We had a very successful evening at St Albans Library on Friday. Huge thanks to Hannah Copley (@hannahcopley.bsky.social) and Pratibha Castle for coming to read to us, as well as to those who took part in the open mic or who came just to listen to some excellent poetry.

4 months ago 5 3 1 0
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Join us for a fantastic evening of poetry in St Albans Library this Friday (5th December) at 7.30 pm with Hannah Copley and Pratibha Castle. Their readings will be followed by an open mic (sign up from 7.00 pm--first come, first served).
#spokenwordpoetry #openmic #poetrycommunity #spokenpoetry

4 months ago 2 1 0 0
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We had a great evening of poetry on Wednesday at The Saint & Sinner pub in the centre of St Albans, when Estelle Price was our featured poet.

Our thanks to her and all those who read or who came to listen to some excellent poetry.

4 months ago 3 1 0 0
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