Lunchtime Meeting - 12.45pm - Speaker Dave Andrews

This is local author Dave Andrews’ third book written to raise funds for charity.

Twenty-five simple sonnets - some serious, some light-hearted - about Oswestry and about life.

An entertaining read which makes a great gift and a perfect stocking-filler.

£5 includes an introduction to the sonnet form and background notes on the poems.

All proceeds from sales go to Lingen Davies Cancer Fund and Cancer Research UK

As usual Dave spoke to the point saying a little about the book, about the sonnet as a form and, of course, about the work of Lingen Davies Cancer Fund.

He finished by reading a light-hearted sonnet or two.

Old Oswestry and other sonnets - a new book by Dave Andrews

‘Twenty-five simple sonnets - some serious, some light-hearted - about Oswestry and about life.’ This is how Dave Andrews, author of ‘Wilfred Owen: Poet of Oswestry’, describes his new book ‘Old Oswestry and other sonnets’. This is the third book Dave has written to raise money for two charities he supports, Lingen Davies Cancer Fund and Cancer Research UK, the other two books being ‘Gobowen to Everest’ and ‘The Oswestry Round’.

The sonnets may be simple to read as Dave’s style is direct and uncomplicated but they are also thought-provoking and well-observed, and occasionally funny and entertaining - like his sonnet to ‘A Pint of Cider’. The sonnets cover a range of issues from the proposed development near Old Oswestry and the threats posed by humans to the environment, to more personal themes such as love, travel, music, nostalgia and reflections on life. Whatever the subject, Dave writes with warmth and sensitivity, and often with humour too.

In the foreword Dave offers a short and useful introduction to the history of the sonnet and explains why this form particularly appeals to him. He tells us that he sees the sonnet as a challenge - to see if he can explore a particular subject in the 14 lines available.

‘I’ve been writing poems for many years,’ explains Dave who once did a two-week run at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has published poems in English and Welsh in many magazines. ‘I think it was while I was writing my book on Wilfred Owen that I thought it might be fun to write a collection of sonnets. Poetry seems to be popular and fashionable at the moment too.’

‘Old Oswestry and other sonnets’ is published with financial support from Three Parishes Big Local and the National Lottery as well as Borderland Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Oswestry and Meraki Colour of Oswestry. It is available in local shops or direct from Dave dand103750@aol.com or 01691 650293. Price £5. All proceeds to the two cancer charities mentioned above.

Dave Andrews