Appreciation of the Gloucestershire poet
Will Harvey’s poem “Hymn for Armistice Day” can be heard on the poetry posts at Bream Community Library and Yorkley.
In addition, five of Harvey’s war related poems appeared in the 8 Nov 20205 edition of Poetry at the Library on Forest Talk.
If you would like to read/listen you can download both at https://breamcommunitylibrary.co.uk/poetry
Many thanks to Elaine Jackson for allowing the use of Harvey’s work.
UPDATE:
We had an excellent day, with a good crowd, much interest, and excellent feedback. Huge thanks to the panel members, the Minsterworth Hall organisers, the catering ladies, and to the audience.
Join us on Sat 1st Nov when the F.W. Harvey Society annual event takes place at Minsterworth Village Hall on Saturday 1st November this year, from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm.
The event focuses on the influence of Minsterworth on Harvey’s writing. It showcases new research by Terry Moore-Scott published in the new society journal to be launched at the event.
A panel including Terry, Eleanor Rawling from the University of Oxford, Doug McLean the Forest publisher, and Stewart Carswell, a local poet, will be looking at the impact of Minsterworth on Will Harvey and debating whether the blissful pastoral image of pre-war Severnside was real or imagined.
There will be talks by Doug McLean who published Will Harvey’s Collected Works and Selected Poems, and John Slater, artist in residence at Dean Heritage Centre.
The event opens with an especially commissioned film of Will Harvey’s Minsterworth, and will include some contemporary poetry from Forest poet Maggie Clutterbuck.
10.30 am Coffee and welcome.
10.40 Will Harvey’s Minsterworth
11.30 Panel Chaired by Jo Durrant.
The influence of Minsterworth on the work of FWH. An imaginary Place?
12.30 Establishing the FW Harvey Library.
12.45 Contemporary poems from Maggie Clutterbuck
1.00 Lunch
2.00 Publishing Will Harvey. Doug McLean of Forest Bookshop
2.45 Working with Elvers John Slater, Artist in Residence at Dean Heritage Centre
3.15 Launch of the F.W. Harvey Society Journal and Finish.
Entry is free with donations from non-members happily accepted towards the cost of the lunch.
Location: Minsterworth Village Hall Main Road, Minsterworth GL2 8JH. Parking available.
To become a member, go to our membership page here or join on the day.
Minsterworth is where the FW Harvey story really began. His family moved to the village when he was a few years old and it became an abiding presence in his work.
On Saturday 1st November we will be discussing new research about his life in the village and its influence on his writing. Was this an Edwardian idyll to be forever changed by the First World War? Why was Catholicism attractive to him when his charismatic mother had raised him in Anglicism at St Peter’s Church? And Dorothy, the famous little boat; who actually owned it?
Enjoy a stimulating discussion, lunch and launch of the new journal with the FW Harvey Society 10.30am-3pm Saturday 1st November 2025 at Minsterworth Village Hall.
Free event. The journal will be on sale at a discounted rate to members of the Society. Go here for how to join.
Congratulations to Roger Deeks, who jointly founded the F.W. Harvey Society in January 2010. Roger was recently appointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. This is a lifetime appointment. Roger will represent the Queen at events throughout the county.
Funeral at St Peter’s Minsterworth 1957
The Society has been fortunate to obtain an original draft of the report of Will Harvey’s funeral held at St Mary’s church Minsterworth Gloucestershire in 1957. This document includes names of all attendees, including family members and clergy.
Following the successful launch of the F.W. Harvey papers at Gloucestershire Archives on 8th November 2013, the following was printed in The Citizen newspaper:
THOUSANDS of previously unpublished manuscripts and poems by one of the county’s best known authors are now on display at Gloucestershire Archives. Born in Hartpury and educated at The King’s School, FW Harvey won huge acclaim for his work documenting his First World War experiences. Dubbed the Laureate of Gloucestershire, his work has been unveiled for the first time at the Alvin Street archives. Months of research have helped establish Harvey’s place in history by providing a full documentation of his wartime experiences, paired with analysis of his development as a poet. The exhibition is focusing on his experience as a prisoner of war.
Julie Courtenay, head of collections at Gloucestershire Archives, said: “We have been running the project to document the collection as FW Harvey is such an important figure for Gloucestershire and the Forest of Dean in particular. “The project is centred on personal papers of poet FW Harvey, which were recently discovered by his family and placed on permanent loan at the Gloucestershire Archives to be preserved, catalogued and researched by University of Exeter. These previously unstudied papers have revealed much exciting and formerly unknown information about Harvey’s life and works.” Following discussions between the Harvey family, the papers have been deposited on permanent loan, held in a collection. It cataloguing has proved a mammoth task for historians. Heather Forbes, county archaeologist, said: “It is so important that this resource is preserved for many other generations to enjoy. We are very grateful to the Harvey family for their help in making this happen. The exhibition is related to the Ivor Gurney project, another important county figure. It is great we have been able to build on that success. This archive will be put on view and preserved for the future. The introduction alone gives a great insight into the nature of the man.
