The World Cup's had its soul ripped out of it. Never fear though, proper football returns when the new National League season kicks off on 8th August...!

On the train to London for The Philip Larkin Society @plsoc.bsky.social AGM at Westminster Abbey - followed by an Abbey tour. Looking forward to my first visit there...

We are very pleased to have @deanwilson.bsky.social new poetry collection in our hands, with a badge and a bookmark too! Officially endorsed by our Chair Graham Chesters.

Poets! Prompt for a rainy day: Rain in the creases of my boots… Get writing! 😃 🖋️

Larkin gets a mention in a bizarre story about Evgeny Lebedev and Amol Rajan in the latest issue of Private Eye. 'What will survive of us...'! @plsoc.bsky.social

Our deputy chair Lyn Lockwood enjoying the Larkin related sights (and shopping) in Leicester today. Aided by our helpful video guide to Larkin's Leicester, filmed by Trustee Philip Pullen, which can be found on the PLS YouTube channel.

Not long now till the launch of Prodigal Flowers: Ten Ecopoems by Mario Petrucci! Book your free place here www.candlestickpress.co.uk/events/ #ecopoems #ecopoetry #environment #poem #poetry

The poem and poet that keeps on giving.... @plsoc.bsky.social

Hull-born Amy Johnson's pioneering flight to Australia ended on this day 1930. She left Croydon Airport on 5 May and landed at Darwin, Northern Territory on 24 May, a distance of 11,000 miles.

I took the Whitsun Weddings train to Doncaster yesterday for the launch of David Harmer's new collection from Crooked Spire Press, 'Before It's Too Late'. Fantastic readings from David, Alison, Adam, Mike and Lisa - and a couple of pints of Doncaster Brewery bitter.

As it’s Whitsun weekend, here’s Larkin himself reading ‘The Whitsun Weddings’. youtube.com/watch?v=YIH5...

Always happy to be reminded of this piece of genius

Philip Larkin @plsoc.bsky.social will be trending in 2027. According to Anna Wintour on the diary page of the latest issue of Private Eye @privateeyenews.bsky.social As told to Craig Brown, naturally...

A new book by friend of the PLS POET DEAN WILSON. Do order here. www.deanworld.org/product-page...

Three fantastic poems, from Jonathan Edwards, Sharon Black and Alexandra Corrina-Tachibana @corrintachibana.bsky.social chosen by Mimi Khalvati as winners in this competition. kentandsussexpoetry.com/2026/04/22/w...

As always, The Fig Tree delivers some fantastic poetry in its latest issue. Delve in and enjoy... figtreepoetry.substack.com/p/the-fig-tr...

Urgent poems for a fragile planet Prodigal Flowers: Ten Ecopoems by Mario Petrucci Encounters with plants and creatures in all their precarious beauty: www.candlestickpress.co.uk/pamphlet/pro...

Today on #Jaffareadstoo I am delighted to share my #bookreview of Ten Poems about Blackbirds from @candlestickpress.bsky.social It’s available now.. #poetry #blackbirds #birds #nature jaffareadstoo.blogspot.com/2026/05/book...

Our two Education Officers Lyn and Anna are working hard on the podcast discussing Larkin and Hughes and their poems set in Holderness. Our re-launch of Tiny In All That Air will have a fresh focus on the next generation of Larkin readers. All taking place in Larkin's office!

Fantastic new edition of About Larkin has arrived just in time for morning coffee. Great start to the weekend. Thank you to all our contributors and our editor Clarissa Hard for all their super work.

A Carol Rumens poem published in About Larkin 44 that reflects on the role of poets in a time of conflict.

Sad news of the death of poet Carol Rumens who taught at the University of Hull and was very much influenced by Larkin's work. www.theguardian.com/books/2026/m...

Still some tickets left for this event...looking forward to representing the Philip Larkin Society @plsoc.bsky.social and doing a couple of Larkin related readings.

Hull-born Amy Johnson set off on her pioneering flight on this day 1930, becoming the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia. She went on to break many long-distance records.

The recovery of a 1968 The Morecambe & Wise Show by Film is Fabulous! was discussed on today's BBC Breakfast. A BBC East Midlands report featuring Professor Justin Smith was followed by a live studio interview with singer Susie Mathis. Find out more filmisfabulous.org.uk/lost-morecam...

Interesting to see that Larkin was one of the champions of ‘Poems on the Underground’. It made him think of pulpit posters outside churches and a reminder that,”the world of imagination existed”. www.positive.news/lifestyle/ar...

The bluebells are blooming! Poems capturing the beauty of a much-loved wildflower: www.candlestickpress.co.uk/pamphlet/ten...

Larkin’s father died on 26 March 1948. A week the following Sunday it snowed in Warwick. This beautiful elegy was never printed in the poet’s lifetime and yet, arguably, it is his first great poem.

Jeremy Wikeley refers to Larkin's Mr Bleaney in this review of Leontia Flynn's collection of poems about homes and living spaces, Profit and Loss. open.substack.com/pub/jwikeley...

On St George's Day, here is a poem that features one of only 3 uses of the word 'English' in Larkin's poetry, which characteristically describes a train journey. From The North Ship, Larkin's first published collection of poetry, 1945.

Dr Andrew Palmer exploring the connections and tensions between Ray Davies and Philip Larkin at our recent conference. You can view this, and other conference presentations by subscribing to our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/channel/UCzv...

President of The Philip Larkin Society, Rosie Millard, opens the second day of our amazing 2026 conference. Over the next few weeks we’ll be uploading most of the presentations. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to ensure that you don’t miss any of them. youtu.be/6M273cwajFQ?...

Still a few places left and concessionary places, first come, first served.

This article is in the latest issue of Record Collector....What, no Sunday Sessions by Philip Larkin? I feel a letter to the editor coming on! @plsoc.bsky.social

Celebrations of life outdoors – whether with our hands in the earth or listening to birdsong – Ten Poems about Allotments and Ten Poems about Blackbirds out today! www.candlestickpress.co.uk/pamphlet/ten... www.candlestickpress.co.uk/pamphlet/ten...

The Fig Tree have a call out for poems to commemorate the 1926 General Strike... figtreepoetry.substack.com/p/submission...

'Larkin's evocation of the icy, claustrophobic, wartime town is heightened by flashbacks to the glowing summer ... Both seasons are vividly evoked.' (Carol Rumens' review of A Girl In Winter, The Guardian 2011). Our online Book Club choice for 11 May meeting. All PLS members very welcome.

Early bird 10% discount until midnight tomorrow with the code BRUSH.

So pleased to have a poem in The Fig Tree's 2025 Anthology, and looking forward to reading at its launch on Saturday 11th April in Doncaster. Come along and hear some fine poetry... Full details at crookedspirepress.com/the-fig-tree...

We are open for full length poetry collection submissions until 31st May. A very small percentage of people who submit to Broken Sleep Books actually buy a book from us. If every submitter bought just 1 title, it would make a huge difference. Guidelines: www.brokensleepbooks.com/submissions

Still a few places. Early bird signup till April 10th: 10% off with the code BRUSH.

The second Fig Tree Women's Poetry Special is out....with another range of fantastic poem... figtreepoetry.substack.com/p/the-fig-tr...

A lovely comment about our recent conference; 'I had so many energising and illuminating conversations...it feels like a real community is building around these events.' Please put 16-17th March 2028 in your diaries and do get in touch if you have any ideas for speakers or topics.

Happy Christmas! We have our competition winners: www.candlestickpress.co.uk/competitions/

Thank you to The Gentian for including my poem ‘Bildr’s thorp’ in their latest Myths and Legends issue: thegentian.wordpress.com/2250-2/

Looking forward to reading at this....

Probably crossing Cemetery Road... @plsoc.bsky.social

A chance to catch another reading from the fabulous Fig Tree Coal Mining Anthology this Saturday, 1.30, at Woodhorn Museum, Ashington, Northumberland. crookedspirepress.com/coal-mining-...

IN MEMORIAM – NEW EDITION The quiet company of words – poems chosen to comfort and console. www.candlestickpress.co.uk/pamphlet/in-...