Welcome
Welcome to the website of the Norman Nicholson Society. The site aims to provide information about Nicholson and his work and encourage the study and enjoyment of this remarkable man's writings. Here you will also find information about the NN Society which holds regular events and publishes the newsletter Comet. The Society is based in Millom, on the banks of the River Duddon and in the shadow of Black Combe, and has a worldwide membership.
MembershipNew members of the Norman Nicholson Society are warmly welcomed. Membership fees are £15 per annum or £20 for a couple living at the same address, and £6 youth membership (up to age 25). Check out benefits of membership here, including how to access the Members' exclusive area of this website. Please contact us at nns.membership@gmail.com
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Norman Nicholson
Norman Nicholson was born in Millom, Cumbria, in 1914 and lived there until his death in 1987 with the exception of two years in his late teens when he was sent to a sanatorium in Hampshire to recover from tuberculosis - an event which shaped his subsequent life. His writing career lasted from 1930 until his death and embraced plays, poetry, novels, criticism and essays. He is best known for his poetry and was awarded the Queen's Medal for Poetry in 1977 and the OBE in 1981.
Read an appreciation of Norman Nicholson by Fran Baker, former archivist at the John Rylands University of Manchester Library, HERE. Most frequently-asked question: Where can I get hold of Nicholson's work? The Greetings shop, 26 Lapstone Road, Millom LA18 4BU, has a range of Nicholson books in stock. Or try Faber & Faber HERE or Amazon HERE, or click HERE for links to Nicholson's poems online. |
Social Media: We're on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Click on the icons below.
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LATEST NEWS
Marie is the Society's new secretary
We are delighted to announce that Marie Hodgson has been co-opted to the Society's committee and will take over the position of secretary from Janice Brockbank in the near future. Marie, originally from Cumbria, now lives in Manchester where she works as a specialist in urban regeneration. Welcome to our committee Marie! And thank you Janice for doing a great job as secretary over the last three and a half years.
posted 28/3/23
posted 28/3/23
Join us this Saturday to reflect on 'A Local Habitation'
'Mr Nicholson's reputation is by now secure; and 'A Local Habitation' will enhance it notably.' So states the flyleaf of the poet's 1972 collection. Over the last 12 months we've been discussing the collection and its place within Nicholson's output and this Saturday we will round it off with an online discussion: 'The Scope and Scape of A Local Habitation: An Assessment of its
Fiftieth Year', led by Antoinette Fawcett. After Antoinette's opening presentation we will invite further contributions and discussion. The focus will be points arising from the presentation, plus a look back at our celebration of this collection.
Many of our 2022 activities were centred on 'A Local Habitation' (the GeoWeek event, the pop-up exhibition, the Zoom event in November, and the Birthday Celebration in January this year). The 50th anniversary of the book was also celebrated in Comet, with a range of excellent contributions by members and non-members in our Autumn issue. Comments are invited on these activities and articles, as well as on any aspects of the book that may not have been considered.
This discussion will follow our online AGM this Saturday. While the AGM is for members only (and if you haven't yet renewed your membership please do so now!) the discussion is open to all and will start at around 12 noon following the AGM which starts at 11am. To register and receive the Zoom link please email nnsocietysecretary@gmail.com.
posted 23/3/23
Fiftieth Year', led by Antoinette Fawcett. After Antoinette's opening presentation we will invite further contributions and discussion. The focus will be points arising from the presentation, plus a look back at our celebration of this collection.
Many of our 2022 activities were centred on 'A Local Habitation' (the GeoWeek event, the pop-up exhibition, the Zoom event in November, and the Birthday Celebration in January this year). The 50th anniversary of the book was also celebrated in Comet, with a range of excellent contributions by members and non-members in our Autumn issue. Comments are invited on these activities and articles, as well as on any aspects of the book that may not have been considered.
This discussion will follow our online AGM this Saturday. While the AGM is for members only (and if you haven't yet renewed your membership please do so now!) the discussion is open to all and will start at around 12 noon following the AGM which starts at 11am. To register and receive the Zoom link please email nnsocietysecretary@gmail.com.
posted 23/3/23
South Cumbria Musical Festival winners
The Norman Nicholson Society this year continued our sponsorship of the South Cumbria Musical Festival, in memory of Peggy Troll, former Chair of the Society and an inspirational English teacher. The poem set for the Junior Poetry Class (Norman Nicholson) was 'In a Word', described by the adjudicator, Carol Schroder, as a surprising and clever poem and as one she was not previously familiar with. She did, however, know many of Nicholson's poems written for adults. The gentle word-play of this poem is difficult to convey, even for adults, but the three primary school entrants made a very good job of showing how well they had understood it. All three entrants paced their performances well, although the grand size of Ulverston's Coronation Hall can make it difficult for younger performers to project their voices in this space. Florence Tyson, of Millom, was the worthy winner of this Class and carried away the SCMF Buttermere Shield as well as a generous book token from the Society. The second place went to Florence's younger brother Xavier Tyson, while the third place went to Felix Alloway from Ulverston. Next year we hope there will be many more contenders for this prestigious prize!
posted 22/3/23
posted 22/3/23
'Changeless Map of Stars'
A new collection of Nicholson poems has appeared! 'Changeless Map of Stars' has just been published by The Greville Press and is available to buy by post. The pamphlet consists of 12 Nicholson poems selected by the Norman Nicholson Society's chair Charlie Lambert, who has also written a preface. This is a very limited print run, so if you'd like to buy a copy, don't leave it too long! The pamphlet is available for £7.50 plus £1.50 p&p, obtainable by cheque payable to Anthony Astbury, posted to The Greville Press, 6 Mellors Court, The Butts, Warwick CV34 4ST.
The Greville Press has a distinguished history, set up by Anthony Astbury with the support of Harold Pinter in 1979, subsequently gaining an enviable reputation for publishing new writers, rediscovering poets from the past, and simply delighting in the enjoyment of the poetic form.
Charlie writes: "It was a real honour to be asked by Anthony Astbury to select the poems and write a preface. I knew about the Greville Press and its illustrious history, dating back to Harold Pinter. Reality soon kicked in though. How on earth could I pick a mere 12 poems from everything that Nicholson wrote? It seemed not just an impossible task but also a thankless one because every Nicholson aficionado will have their own top 12 picks and I'm pretty sure that none of them will correspond to mine! After the panic subsided I decided that I would come up with a format and then make the choices that appealed to me. That, after all, was what Anthony wanted. So I decided to select poems which represent Norman in different stages of his writing career, from For the New Year from his first full collection 'Five Rivers' to Comet Come, published in 1986. I wanted to include different styles and different moods, and to make sure that some of the best-known poems were included, such as Wall and Sea to the West. I hope I've come up with a selection which will not only please those who know their Nicholson, but also readers who may be relatively new to his work, and will understand why we find him not just a great poet for his time, but a prescient poet for our time as well. Composing the preface was a great opportunity for me to expand on that theme and underline why Norman Nicholson matters - as well as getting one or two things off my chest!"
posted 7/3/23
The Greville Press has a distinguished history, set up by Anthony Astbury with the support of Harold Pinter in 1979, subsequently gaining an enviable reputation for publishing new writers, rediscovering poets from the past, and simply delighting in the enjoyment of the poetic form.
Charlie writes: "It was a real honour to be asked by Anthony Astbury to select the poems and write a preface. I knew about the Greville Press and its illustrious history, dating back to Harold Pinter. Reality soon kicked in though. How on earth could I pick a mere 12 poems from everything that Nicholson wrote? It seemed not just an impossible task but also a thankless one because every Nicholson aficionado will have their own top 12 picks and I'm pretty sure that none of them will correspond to mine! After the panic subsided I decided that I would come up with a format and then make the choices that appealed to me. That, after all, was what Anthony wanted. So I decided to select poems which represent Norman in different stages of his writing career, from For the New Year from his first full collection 'Five Rivers' to Comet Come, published in 1986. I wanted to include different styles and different moods, and to make sure that some of the best-known poems were included, such as Wall and Sea to the West. I hope I've come up with a selection which will not only please those who know their Nicholson, but also readers who may be relatively new to his work, and will understand why we find him not just a great poet for his time, but a prescient poet for our time as well. Composing the preface was a great opportunity for me to expand on that theme and underline why Norman Nicholson matters - as well as getting one or two things off my chest!"
posted 7/3/23
Our AGM - and reflections on A Local Habitation
The Society's AGM will take place on Saturday March 25th at 11am, on Zoom. A reminder to members - you must have renewed your membership for this year to be eligible to attend. Details will be circulated by email shortly. The AGM will be followed by a discussion and reflections on the year in which we celebrated Nicholson's 1972 collection A Local Habitation, to be led by Antoinette Fawcett.
posted 2/3/23
posted 2/3/23
We hit the target!
The Norman Nicholson House project team has pulled off a remarkable success by raising £20,000 towards the overall cost of the scheme, hours ahead of a deadline set by the Architectural Heritage Fund to double their money. The result of their online crowdfunder means the House project will benefit to the tune of £40,000, thanks to the AHF’s pledge to match all funds raised to a maximum of £20,000 by the end of today, January 31st 2023.
Chair of the Norman Nicholson House project Charlie Lambert said: ‘I can’t quite believe it but people have been incredibly generous and really got behind our crowdfunder in this last week as the AHF’s deadline closed in. It’s been humbling to see the donations coming in from a wide range of people. Whether the amount has been small or large we know that it’s a tough time for people economically and we really appreciate every single donation’.
The crowdfunder, hosted on www.GoFundMe.com, is titled ‘Breathe New Life into Norman Nicholson’s house’ and raises money towards the cost of buying and renovating the lifelong home of the Millom poet who died in 1987. Charlie said: ‘This fundraising achievement makes a massive statement and will show major funding organisations how much support we have as we approach them for the significant additional funds we need in order to realise our ambitions’.
The project intends to turn the ground floor of the three-storey Victorian terraced house into a café and community hub, with the two upper floors becoming home to a lively museum interpreting Nicholson’s work for a modern audience.
posted 31/1/23
Chair of the Norman Nicholson House project Charlie Lambert said: ‘I can’t quite believe it but people have been incredibly generous and really got behind our crowdfunder in this last week as the AHF’s deadline closed in. It’s been humbling to see the donations coming in from a wide range of people. Whether the amount has been small or large we know that it’s a tough time for people economically and we really appreciate every single donation’.
The crowdfunder, hosted on www.GoFundMe.com, is titled ‘Breathe New Life into Norman Nicholson’s house’ and raises money towards the cost of buying and renovating the lifelong home of the Millom poet who died in 1987. Charlie said: ‘This fundraising achievement makes a massive statement and will show major funding organisations how much support we have as we approach them for the significant additional funds we need in order to realise our ambitions’.
The project intends to turn the ground floor of the three-storey Victorian terraced house into a café and community hub, with the two upper floors becoming home to a lively museum interpreting Nicholson’s work for a modern audience.
posted 31/1/23
Our crowdfunder makes it into the TLS
The Times Literary Supplement has picked up on our crowdfunding campaign in support of the Nicholson House project. This week's edition, in the 'Farmed Out' column, encourages its readers to donate and emphasises that the deadline for matchfunding from the Architectural Heritage Fund, January 31st, is rapidly approaching.
posted 21/1/23
posted 21/1/23
Cumbria Arts & Culture podcast features Nicholson
We're featured in the latest podcast from Cumbria Arts & Culture Network. Producer Tom Speight has been talking to our chair Charlie Lambert about Nicholson the poet, as well as finding out about Nicholson's house in Millom and the Society's plans for the coming year. Listen to the podcast and view accompanying pictures HERE.
posted 17/1/23
posted 17/1/23
Poetry and cake
Members of the Norman Nicholson Society held a poetic party on Sunday January 8th to mark the 109th anniversary of the birth of their favourite poet. The event featured a series of readings of Nicholson's poetry, chosen for their striking relevance to the global crises of today despite the writer having died in 1987. The party began in the living room of Nicholson's lifetime home, 14 St George's Terrace, where an online audience joined in via Zoom. This first session ended with an audio recording of Nicholson reading one of his poems, The Whisperer. The in-person group then walked the short distance to St George's Church (pictured) where Nicholson was once a regular member of the congregation, for more readings, tea, coffee, biscuits, and, of course, cake.
Chair of the Norman Nicholson Society Charlie Lambert said: 'It was a really cheerful and enjoyable event, and very moving to hear Norman's voice once again in his own environment'.
posted 17/1/23
Chair of the Norman Nicholson Society Charlie Lambert said: 'It was a really cheerful and enjoyable event, and very moving to hear Norman's voice once again in his own environment'.
posted 17/1/23
Nicholson on Radio 3
Nicholson's poem For the New Year was read on BBC Radio 3 this morning, as their selected Poem of the Day. You can hear it via BBC Sounds at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001ghfh
at 1 hr 21 mins 30 secs along the timeline. The poem appeared in Nicholson's first major collection 'Five Rivers' published in 1944.
The stars wheel past the windows
Like flocks of winter sparrows...
Well worth a listen.
posted 6/1/23
at 1 hr 21 mins 30 secs along the timeline. The poem appeared in Nicholson's first major collection 'Five Rivers' published in 1944.
The stars wheel past the windows
Like flocks of winter sparrows...
Well worth a listen.
posted 6/1/23
Happy New Year from all of us at the Norman Nicholson Society
We're pleased to announce that next Sunday's birthday event will be available for everyone to join live via Zoom. As previously posted here, we will celebrate Norman's 109th birthday with a poetry-reading event starting at 14 St George's Terrace and then moving on to St George's Church. We hope you can join us in person for this, but if you can't, then do link up using Zoom. We've held plenty of Zoom events already, but this will be our first 'hybrid' event, meaning that there will be a live, in-person audience as well as those joining online. We're treating it as a trial run with a view to making more events available on a hybrid basis in future. For this one, the online audience will be able to see and hear all the proceedings in the first part of the event, at No 14, but won't be able to speak to the meeting. They will be welcome to use the Chat facility to comment or ask questions. For logistical reasons the Zoom element will only apply to the first part of the afternoon, at No 14, and not the subsequent session at the church. If you'd like to join us online, please register by 5pm on Saturday January 7th by emailing normannicholsonsociety@gmail.com. The link will be sent out later that evening. The event starts at 2pm on Sunday 8th.
posted 1/1/23
Celebrate Nicholson's birthday with us!
Each year the Society does something to mark Norman Nicholson's birthday on January 8th and we can now announce our plans for the big day in 2023. On Sunday January 8th there will be a series of readings of Nicholson's poems which still hit the spot today, whether on the subject of war in Europe, climate change, or living with difficult circumstances. We'll meet at Norman's house, 14 St George's Terrace, for the first few readings and then make our way via the Scutcher in Market Square to St George's Church where the main part of the event will take place and refreshments will be available. There's no admission charge and everyone is welcome to join us. Our thanks to Rev Carl Carter for permission to meet at St George's.
posted 23/12/22
posted 23/12/22
Our Christmas 'Poet Tree'!
The Society is again taking part in the annual Christmas Tree Festival at St George's Church in Millom. Our tree this year is a departure from the usual evergreen variety. Instead our imaginative committee members Sue Dawson and Janice Brockbank have designed a very inventive and cleverly-named 'Poet Tree' which uses Nicholson books to form the shape of a traditional Christmas tree. Instead of a star on the top there's a representation of a comet, a homage to our former committee member Peggy Troll, and visitors will also see a bright red geranium crafted from felt which is a tribute to another of our much-missed friends Dot Richardson, who was part of our Christmas tree team for many years. The festival is open 11am to 5pm Wednesday to Sunday.
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posted 10/12/22 photos: SUE DAWSON
In the members' area: a theologian's view of Nicholson
Fr Jerry Walsh. Photo: Steven Springsdorf
Nicholson's early reputation was built largely on his religious poetry; indeed, at the age of 27, in 1941, he was commissioned by Penguin to edit 'An Anthology of Religious Verse, Designed for the Times', published the following year. This aspect of his work is largely undiscussed these days, leaving a gap which the Society's honorary vice-president David Boyd now fills in an article exclusive to members of the Society. David, author of the 2015 biography 'Norman Nicholson, A Literary Life', has been reviewing his correspondence with the late Father Jerry Walsh, Professor of Old Testament Studies at the University of Dallas, Texas. The fascinating outcome is now available in the Members' Area of this website. If you're a member of the Society and haven't yet registered for access to this exclusive area, the details are HERE.
posted 5/12/22
posted 5/12/22
On display at the Archive Anniversary Fair
The Society was pleased to put on a display at the Cumbria Archive Service 60th Anniversary History Fair in Carlisle last Saturday (November 12). The Cumbria archivist, Kelda Roe, kindly provided surrogates of some of the Christine Boyce materials deposited there, all preparatory work for her masterpiece, the Norman Nicholson Memorial Window at St George's Church in Millom. They were very striking, particularly the three alternative sketches for the window, which gave visitors the chance to compare them to each other and to the final version. Thank you to Cumbria Archive for the opportunity and to everyone who came to our stall.
posted 14/11/22 photo: GLENN LANG
posted 14/11/22 photo: GLENN LANG
Cumbria Archive Service
A compilation of the catalogue entries for all the Nicholson materials listed in Cumbria Archive Service online catalogue,
as kept in archive centres in Cumbria, is now available in the Members' Area of this website. The list, put together by our committee member and editor of Comet Antoinette Fawcett, contains a surprisingly large number of items - gold dust for anyone engaged in Nicholson research. Access to the Members' Area is free to all members of the Society but you must register in order to access it. Details HERE.
posted 11/11/22
as kept in archive centres in Cumbria, is now available in the Members' Area of this website. The list, put together by our committee member and editor of Comet Antoinette Fawcett, contains a surprisingly large number of items - gold dust for anyone engaged in Nicholson research. Access to the Members' Area is free to all members of the Society but you must register in order to access it. Details HERE.
posted 11/11/22
Doreen Cornthwaite remembers...
There's a new addition to the Norman Nicholson Audio Archive. Nicholson's second cousin, Doreen Cornthwaite, has shared her memories of Norman, from her youth in South Africa where she first learned from her father that she had a relative who was 'a poet of sorts' to moving to Cumbria and getting to know Norman and his wife Yvonne very well. She recalls how she discovered that Nicholson's work was being taught in schools in South Africa and also how Norman once said to her, 'When I die no-one will remember me'! You can listen to the audio HERE.
posted 31/10/22
David Scott
We're sorry to pass on the sad that news David Scott, a long-standing member of the Society, has died, aged 75. David, a priest by calling, served in the ministry in Cumbria, Middlesex and Winchester. He was also a successful poet and became a friend of Norman Nicholson. He was a strong supporter of our activities and events. We send our condolences to his wife Miggy and to all David's family and friends.
There's an excellent tribute to David here: https://www.bloodaxebooks.com/news?articleid=1253&fbclid=IwAR2E1sdQy4aoswfJKkL5HRaghdTosEIXyaFO3OjRuXveiwn-lUu39xHSgqY
posted 24/10/22
There's an excellent tribute to David here: https://www.bloodaxebooks.com/news?articleid=1253&fbclid=IwAR2E1sdQy4aoswfJKkL5HRaghdTosEIXyaFO3OjRuXveiwn-lUu39xHSgqY
posted 24/10/22
Support from Copeland Community Fund
Copeland Community Fund is to provide two grants to cover important work on the Norman Nicholson House project. The CCF Enabling Fund has agreed to meet the cost of upgrading the plans for the new-look house by John Coward Architects of Cartmel, and also a complete reassessment of the project's budget which has to be revised in view of rapidly escalating costs across the board. This support is worth a total of £1,718 and is a further sign of support for the project which is part of Millom Town Deal's application to the Government for a multi-million pound grant under the levelling up strategy.
The Nicholson House project was launched by the Society in 2016 and is now being led by the Norman Nicholson House Community Interest Company, set up by the Society in 2020. The project aims to buy and renovate 14 St George's Terrace, and locate in the house a lively museum to celebrate Nicholson's work, en-suite accommodation for a writer-in-residence as well as general tourists, and a good-quality cafe to become a focal point for local people and community groups.
It has received financial support so far from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund, Millom Stronger Towns Fund, and a host of individuals who continue to donate to the project's GoFundMe crowdfunding page. The next big landmark will be the Government's decision on the Millom application which is due before the end of the year.
posted 15/10/22
The Nicholson House project was launched by the Society in 2016 and is now being led by the Norman Nicholson House Community Interest Company, set up by the Society in 2020. The project aims to buy and renovate 14 St George's Terrace, and locate in the house a lively museum to celebrate Nicholson's work, en-suite accommodation for a writer-in-residence as well as general tourists, and a good-quality cafe to become a focal point for local people and community groups.
It has received financial support so far from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund, Millom Stronger Towns Fund, and a host of individuals who continue to donate to the project's GoFundMe crowdfunding page. The next big landmark will be the Government's decision on the Millom application which is due before the end of the year.
posted 15/10/22
Millom Library closes
photo: SUE DAWSON
It's a landmark day tomorrow when Millom Library closes in readiness for its move to the former Network Centre adjoining Millom School. The library in St George's Road was an important place throughout Norman Nicholson's life. The secondary school he attended was located within the building; he frequently used it for study and reference; he opened the Folk Museum when it was created in 1974; and a bust of Nicholson by the sculptor Joan Palmer remains in the library to this day. We're pleased to hear that the bust will have a prominent position in the new library which is due to be formally opened next month.
posted 11/10/22
posted 11/10/22
A look at our Heritage Week exhibition
posted 25/9/22
A face, a place, a root
Norman Nicholson's house in St George's Terrace, Millom, came to vibrant life yesterday as we threw the front door open to welcome visitors to our one-off exhibition to celebrate both Nicholson and National Heritage Week. It was wonderful to see people arriving from all over Cumbria and beyond. They included the Acting Mayor of Millom Simone Faulkner, Councillor Emma Ormesher, the Chair of Millom & Haverigg Civic Society Irene Rogan, and also Kate Parry and Tom Speight from Cumbria Heritage and Arts Network. A big thank you to everyone who came and supported the event, and also to those who kindly loaned items for display. Exhibits ranged from Josefina de Vasconcellos' bust of Nicholson to poems published in poster format by the Mid Northumberland Arts Group (MidNAG), to Norman's whisky flask, typewriter and even his favourite recipe! Thanks also to Jonathan Powell for leading a guided walk and our committee members who put it all together.
Bust of Norman Nicholson by Josefina de Vasconcellos, below a black and white photo from Norman's school days.
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There was plenty for visitors to see on the ground floor of the Nicholson family home.
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Exhibits included the deeds to No 14, with the signature of Joseph Nicholson, Norman's father.
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posted 18/9/22
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for previous News items please visit our News Archive
Explore Millom and surrounding area:
Millom Arts & Heritage Centre St George's Church Hodbarrow RSPB Reserve |
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