Ian Kerry and the Humber Bridge

My guest today is Ian Kerry who is a photographer and Hull enthusiast. And today’s episode is a new direction for me as I take the microphone outside and travel 70 miles up the road from Sheffield to the Hessle Foreshore, sitting on a picnic bench taking in the view of the Humber Bridge. Ian, Gavin and I talk about the construction of the bridge and the effect of the bridge’s arrival on the local community and the changes to the landscape and human relationships that the bridge brought about. We read a selection of Larkin’s poems and prose and explore what the bridge and the wider Holderness area meant to Larkin.  You will hear some ambient noises in the background- the wind, people walking past, the occasional car and seagull- I hope it helps to set the scene rather than presents a distraction! We also hear PLS member Chris Sewart, reading Bridge for the Living in full. This was recorded on the other side of the river in Barton Upon Humber, with the south pillars of the bridge just behind us. Thank you Chris for taking the time to record this for us.Larkin poems discussed:Here, The Whitsun Weddings, Bridge for the Living, High Windows, Aubade, The Building, Friday Night in the Royal Station Hotel, AbsencesOther references:Ian’s English teacher- Kate TordoffA Rumoured City https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rumoured-City-New-Poets-Hull/dp/090642741XWizard of Oz (1939 dir Victor Fleming)Monitor, Down Cemetery Road with Philip Larkin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coe11pgoj8EAlex Howard https://alexhoward.org/about/https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/35859Joe Riley https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/joe-riley-presents-the-whitsun-weddings/id1486735740?i=1000664101367Sketch Poetry podcast; https://open.spotify.com/show/4Ubm0zfLmjrOqVqMWulgf0https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2010/jun/24/hull-inspires-poets What fresh Hull is this?Philip Larkin's east Yorkshire home town has been called the most poetic city in England. Which town exercises – or defeats – your muse? By John KeenanSongs for Humberside by Christopher Rowe and Ian Clarkhttps://www.discogs.com/release/3734583-Christopher-Rowe-Ian-Clark-Songs-For-Humberside?srsltid=AfmBOorFZyFqtjKQJDPeTX6e7CYglsETWEwiawNbWL4HNZWYIDbVignNBridging the Humber https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aepcHKLWgjs&t=1366sAlmost Instinct, Almost True booking link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/almost-instinct-almost-true-tickets-1334343379969?aff=oddtdtcreatorMusic: Lazy River (Louis Armstrong) played by Sidney BechetTheme music:The Horns of the Morning by Wes Finch and the Mechanicals Bandhttps://themechanicalsband.bandcamp.com/album/the-righteous-jazzProduced by Lyn Lockwood and Gavin HoggPlease email Lyn at ⁠[email protected] ⁠ with any questions or commentsPLS Membership, events, merchandise and information: philiplarkin.com