South Somerset Homes residents’ poetry group
a huge success
23 August 2006

Residents of a South Somerset Homes owned sheltered housing scheme at Balsam Close in Wincanton, who have set up their own poetry group, have enjoyed an evening performance of poetry and singing at Wincanton War Memorial Hall.

More than 100 hundred people turned up on Monday evening to see the performance including friends and family of the poetry group, the Mayor of Wincanton, Colin Winder and PCSO Melanie Austin. Previous performances have been held at other sheltered schemes, Wincanton Red Cross day centre and Verrington Hospital in Wincanton.

The poetry group was set up 18 months ago, and to begin with it was just to get a few residents together in the afternoon to write poems and sing songs. From this, they have grown into a very happy little group who now meet fortnightly at a session called "Poets Corner" where they discuss ideas and produce poetry.

Pictured here are the Balsam Close residents performing poetry and fun songs, from front left to right are residents Jack Clay, Sid Pleasants and Ray Kiddle

The residents have written all the poems and fun songs themselves. Poems have been written about social activities, memories, animals, special people, and much more.

Carol Glass, Scheme Manager at Balsam Close said, “When the group was founded we never dreamed that it would be so successful and are overwhelmed by the reaction to the performance and have received several more bookings for performances and are also working on a Christmas performance. Our aim is to have the poems published in a book so that the residents, their families and friends can have a reminder of their excellent work.”

Pictured here are t he Balsam Close residents performing poetry and fun songs, from front left to right are Colin Winder (Mayor of Wincanton), Jack Clay, Sid Pleasants, Ray Kiddle and Melanie Austin (Police Community Support Officer)