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Larkin 25
Another Look at Larkin
Location(s)Kingston upon Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire
Years active14 June to 2 December 2010
Websitehttp://www.larkin25.co.uk/

Larkin 25 is an arts festival and cultural event in Kingston upon Hull, England, organised to mark the 25th anniversary of the death of the poet and University of Hull librarian, Philip Larkin. The festival was launched at Hull Truck Theatre on 14 June and will continue until December 2010.[1][2] The festival received funding from the Arts Council England and other funding bodies along with local sponsorship by the private sector.

Larkin was born in Coventry but adopted Hull as his home town during the period he served as head librarian at the Brynmor Jones Library[3] from 1955 until his death in 1985. He lived for much of this time in Newland Park in Hull[4] near the University and later in a flat at Pearson Park[5] off Beverley Road.

Overview

The festival programme included walking tours, art and photography exhibitions, musical events and an exhibition of Larkin memorabilia. Sir Tom Courtenay visited the University of Hull to give two performances, and Hull buses display Larkin's poems. Hull's annual literature festival, 'Humber Mouth 2010', occurred at the same time.[6] In addition a public art event was held, consisting of 40 fibre-glass toad sculptures, each painted with a unique design created by artists and local people.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13] The 'Citycare toad' toured health and community centres in Hull.[14]

The Daily Telegraph reported that 'the reclusive' Larkin 'would be unimpressed' by the event.[15] Stephen McClarence writing in The Times observed, 'The city is celebrating this year's 25th anniversary of his death in fine style.'[16] The plans for the sculpture trail initially drew criticism due to concerns about the expenditure at a time of recession.[17] The event went ahead despite the negative response, inviting artists to design a toad and with sponsorship invited for each toad. The press reported a positive response from the public once the toads were put on display. The Hull Daily Mail reported that local opinion had shifted in favour of the Toad sculptures with an online poll recording a majority of readers favouring the event[18] and that the popularity of the Larkin toads with residents and visitors may lead to them becoming a permanent feature on Hull's streets.[19]

Larkin with Toads

Number 10: representation of Larkin as a toad, Princes Quay Shopping Centre, Kingston upon Hull

The centrepiece of the festival is a public art display, "Larkin with Toads", which was launched in Hull city centre on Saturday 17 July.[18] It consists of 40 fibre-glass toad sculptures, each painted with a unique design created by artists and local people.[20] The idea for the trail was inspired by Larkin's poems about working life, Toads and Toads Revisited and recalls the poet's love of wildlife.[21]

The designs include a "Larkin toad", a "Punk toad", a "Tiger Toad" based on the mascot of Hull City A.F.C. and a "Typographical toad" adorned with Larkin's poetry.[22]

The organisers intend to auction the toads for charity at the end of the event, though there have been calls to make some a permanent feature.[19]

Locations

The Larkin toad trail covers key locations in Hull city centre such as Hull Paragon Interchange, Hull Truck Theatre, the Museum Quarter and The Deep. There are toads in the city's three shopping centres, St. Stephen's Hull, Princes Quay and the Prospect Centre. Other toads are located in outlying suburban areas such The Avenues and University of Hull with some beyond Hull's boundaries in areas of the East Riding known to Larkin. There is also a Larkin toad at the nearby town of Beverley, located on Flemingate near Beverley Minster. By late July 2010, The Hull Daily Mail reported that over 30,000 of the guides had been distributed to members of the public. A marketing company was employed to cope with the high level of public interest in the event.[23]

Vandalism and theft

Some of the Larkin toads were subjected to acts of vandalism and theft.[24] The Yorkshire Post reported that several models had been vandalised.[25] The BBC News and The Daily Telegraph reported that a 'punk toad' near Hull Truck Theatre had its mohican ripped off and an 'astronaut toad' outside the railway station had suffered criminal damage. The organisers repaired the damage and efforts were made to make the toads more resilient to vandalism.[24][26] The BBC and Hull Daily Mail reported that the Magenta Toad had been stolen from North Ferriby.[27][28] It was later found dumped by the A63 and recovered for repair.[29]

Larkin statue

The legacy of the festival will be a life-size statue of Philip Larkin designed by Martin Jennings, to be installed on the concourse at Hull Paragon Station in early December 2010.[30] A competition was held for the design, the winner portrays him hurrying to catch a train from Hull. It is planned to unveil the statue on the twenty-fifth anniversary of Larkin's death, 2 December 2010. It is reminiscent of Jenning's statue of Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman, at London's St Pancras Station. An appeal to raise the funds to complete the statue coincided with the Larkin 25 events. On 4 August 2010, Hull City Council's Planning Committee gave permission to install the statue on Paragon Interchange concourse. BBC News reported that it will have an inscription from the first line of Larkin's poem, 'The Whitsun Weddings'.[31][32]

Jazz

Larkin was jazz critic for The Daily Telegraph between 1961 and 1971. Charles Spencer comments that Larkin 'could live a week without poetry but not a day without jazz'. A compilation of Larkin's favourite jazz recordings titled "Larkin's Jazz" has been released to mark the 25th anniversary of his death.[33]

References

  1. ^ "Festival to celebrate Philip Larkin's life kicks-off". This is Hull & East Riding. Northcliffe Media Ltd. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  2. ^ BBC News 11 February 2010 'Commemorations planned for Hull poet Philip Larkin'. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
  3. ^ Paul Harrop. "Brynmor Jones Library, University of Hull".
  4. ^ Paul Harrop. "105 Newland Park, Hull".
  5. ^ Paul Harrop. "31 and 32 Pearson Park, Hull".
  6. ^ Humber Mouth 2010. HM10. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  7. ^ "Commemorating the life and work of Philip Larkin". Larkin25. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  8. ^ "Larkin Revisited – Tom Courtenay". Dig Yorkshire. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  9. ^ BBC 16 June 2010 Radio 4 'Today' Programme interview with Tom Courtenay on Larkin 'Sir Tom Courtenay on 'my Larkin'. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
  10. ^ BBC Humber 7 July 2010 'Hull's buses display Larkin's poems in tribute to poet'. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
  11. ^ Yorkshire Evening Post 6 July 2010 'Buses are fare way to celebrate city poet'. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
  12. ^ 'Larkin 25' 7 July 2010 Welcome aboard the Philip Larkin bus!. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
  13. ^ BBC News 'Clipper rount-the-world crews return to Humber'. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  14. ^ "'City's healthiest Larkin25 toad goes on tour'". Citycare-developments.co.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  15. ^ "Hull organises tourist tour for 25th anniversary of death". The Daily Telegraph. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2010. {{cite news}}: |section= ignored (help)
  16. ^ McClarence, Steve 'Poetry in the provincial: Philip Larkin's Hull' The Times, London 2010-06-18 (Pay-for-view subscription required from July 2010)
  17. ^ Thornhill, Ted (15 March 2010). "Hull council spends £200,000 on toads". Metro.co.uk. Associated Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  18. ^ a b Hull Daily Mail 17 July 2010 'Weird and wonderful toads hop onto city streets for Larkin 25 celebrations'. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  19. ^ a b This is Hull and East Riding 20 July 2010 'City's toad invasion could be here to stay after 'incredibly positive' response'. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  20. ^ "Larkin toads get finishing touches". This is Hull and East Riding. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  21. ^ "Picking a Tigger toad for Larkin Festival". This is Hull and East Riding. 9 April 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  22. ^ "Hull to mark 25th anniversary of Larkin's death with giant model toads". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  23. ^ This is Hull and East Riding 27 July 2010 'Toad trail maps leap off shelves'. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  24. ^ a b "Hull's Larkin toads attacked by vandals". BBC Humberside. BBC. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  25. ^ Yorkshire Post 20 July 2010 'Toads in a hole as tributes hit by pond life' . Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  26. ^ "Philip Larkin toads vandalised". Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  27. ^ 'Thieves steal giant Philip Larkin toad in Hull' BBC News Humber 6 September 2010.
  28. ^ 'Larkin Toad stolen from North Ferriby' Hull Daily Mail This is Hull and East Riding, 6 September 2010.
  29. ^ 'Stolen toad found dumped by A63' Hull Daily Mail 7 September 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  30. ^ "Sculptor chosen for Larkin statue". BBC News Online. BBC. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  31. ^ BBC News Humberside 5 August 2010 'Council go-ahead for Larkin statue'. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  32. ^ This is Hull and East Riding 5 August 2010 'Life-size statue of Larkin to be put up at Paragon station - despite divided opinion'. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  33. ^ Spencer, Charles (7 August 2010). "Philip Larkin's box-set will be pure poetry". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 August 2010.

Further reading

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