Philip Larkin Society

No photos of Simon Armitage (as requested) but a fantastic talk, ably supported by Festival Poet @chriswriting.bsky.social @stage4beverley.bsky.social

Looking forward to seeing Simon Armitage and @chriswriting.bsky.social today, supported by the PLS at @stage4beverley.bsky.social . We know the spirit of Philip Larkin will not be far away!

This is our favourite statue in Hull too!

A rather dour account of Philip Larkin in this 1991 book about Hull.

Thank you all at Philip Larkin Society.

Tiny In All That Air Books Podcast · Every two months · This is the podcast for anyone who is interested in Philip Larkin. We will bring you new insights into Larkin's life and writing by talking to people with fascinatin...

Our podcast is taking a break while Lyn is co-organising this year's conference. But there are over 50 episodes to enjoy so please have a listen. Also available on our YouTube channel. No subscription or membership needed.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

YouTube video by Back to Ours The Dean Wilson Film Club - All 6 Films

Withernsea poet Dean Wilson will be joining us at the PLS conference next month. Who knows what wonderful stories he will tell us?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-3h...

YouTube video by The Philip Larkin Society Chris Sewart Stage4Beverley Festival Poet 2026

We are delighted to be supporting Festival Poet, and PLS member, Chris Sewart, at this year’s Stage4Beverley Festival.

youtu.be/-kAVkqb88M0?...

It was my extreme honour to step in for Philip Larkin, who was unavailable, and speak a key line from This Be The Verse on the GREAT new single from @simonloverules.bsky.social. Preorder his new album safe in the knowledge that I appear only on one track. @backlisted.bsky.social

The Poems on The Underground project began in 1986. It's nice to see Larkin opposite Stevie Smith, who was born in Hull, and whose archives were acquired by Larkin for the University.

At next month's conference we will be exploring the surprising links between Philip Larkin and two of the UK's most loved writers and performers - Carry On's Kenneth Williams and Ray Davies of The Kinks

The Philip Larkin Society Conference 2026 Two days of fascinating talks and presentations exploring the work of Philip Larkin and his literary contemporaries.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1727992314... There is a great programme of speakers and topics at this year's conference 19-20 March in Hull. Open to all, please register for a place and come along.

Larkin was certainly a keen listener to ‘The Archers’, as was his mother, Eva, and his girlfriend Monica Jones. He once wrote to Monica. “I lay in bed listening to the omnibus Archers - how dull it is. Wish I could have the writing of it for a week…” That would have been fascinating! #TheArchers

#TheArchers
Today's episode of The Archers is brought to you by Philip Larkin...

Why I'm starting a poetry press (and how you can help) Introducing: Headless Poet

Friend of the PLS Jeremy Wikeley is starting a new poetry press.
jwikeley.substack.com/p/why-im-sta...

Here's Chris Sewart's final festival poem as we get closer to this year's @stage4beverley.bsky.social event. We are looking forward to seeing Chris and all the other poets and musicians who will be bringing their fantastic energy to Beverley. Thanks Chris!

Definitely worth reading the whole poem.

Our President Rosie Millard will be talking about the society's ambition to reach the next generation of Larkin readers and the #nationalyearofreading at the PLS Conference 19-20th March at the University of Hull. All welcome. Register on Eventbrite at the Earlybird rate.

The opening lines to Ros Barber's wonderful poem Material, that explores memory and loss through the every day objects around us. Ros will be one of our key notes speakers at next month's conference, discussing Aubade, Jill and much more. We are open for registration for attendees on Eventbrite now.

This is a fantastic work of research, very easy to lose yourself as you browse the pages. We hope you enjoy it.

UK citizens to be able to travel to China visa-free, Starmer announces in Beijing

Too late for Philip Larkin, who said "I wouldn't mind going to China if I could come back the same day".

The Philip Larkin Society Conference 2026 Two days of fascinating talks and presentations exploring the work of Philip Larkin and his literary contemporaries.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1727992314... Our modest Early Bird offer ends on 6th February , so why not register for your place now? The programme is looking fantastic.

Please enjoy Chris Sewart's second festival poem, celebrating the unexpected ways that poetry can bring us together.

The Society are delighted to be involved with a celebration of Maurice Rutherford, Hull poet, on May 9th of this year at Hull Truck. He wrote a whole collection of poems called The Flip side to Philip Larkin including 'Rome Is So Sad' about the Pope. Watch this space for details.

We hope you enjoy them and watch out for more Jill related items on Bluesky and our YouTube channel.

This one is pretty frail too, I don't think they were particularly robust to start with.

Thank you to Chris for this joyous brass band blast!

Simon Armitage sat down in front of a bookshelf filled with lots of colourful books.

Simon Armitage is coming to Beverley! Tickets are selling fast, with one performance already sold out and a second one now on sale. Book now to see the Poet Laureate perform at Toll Gavel United Church on 14th February.

🎟️ Tickets on sale here: stage4beverley.com/whats-on/sim...

The Society are celebrating 80 years since the publication of Jill, pictured here at Larkin's college, St Johns, Oxford.