´óÏó´«Ã½

Explore the ´óÏó´«Ã½
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

13 November 2014

´óÏó´«Ã½ Homepage

Local ´óÏó´«Ã½ Sites

Neighbouring Sites

Related ´óÏó´«Ã½ Sites


Contact Us

Places features

You are in: Derby > Places > Places features > Your Derbyshire Poem

Notepad and pen

Writer's block? Share the load!

Your Derbyshire Poem

As part of National Poetry Day 2005 we asked you to help mark the occasion by writing a poem centred on Derbyshire.

And we asked you to write the poem... bit by bit.

To start us off, Derbyshire's Poet Laureate, Cathy Grindrod, from Heanor, wrote the first two lines. The theme for National Poetry Day this year was 'The Future'.

Then, throughout the day, line by line, you sent in your suggestions as to what the next lines should be and how the poem should develop.

The result is below and you can use the link on the right to hear Cathy's verdict on the result and hear the poem in full.

The future's bright in Derbyshire
Where past and present meet,ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (Cathy Grindrod)
From castles, trams, and ancient mills
To vibrant city streets.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (Bob Lean)
Along the valleys, through the towns
the Derwent makes its way,ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (Linda Knight)
Full of hope and promise
At the dawn of each new day.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý(Gwen Hall)

The future's bright in Derbyshire
Where aspirations grow,ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (Avril Jones)
Where vision takes us forward
And fresh ideas flow.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (Mike Bennett)
By pioneers gone before us
Such as Whittle, Strutt, Rolls, Royce, ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (Vera Hadfield)
Tomorrow's world will be inspired
As new life finds its voice.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (Angela Bell)

MacArthur,ÌýWright and Nightingale
With Clough and Stephenson too
Have taught our sons and daughters
To shine in all they do.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (Michael Tebbitt)
We're not about just peaks and dales
Nor chateaus for the blessed,
But nature's gifts and legaciesÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (Christine Ward)
Inspire us to be best.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (Angela Bell)

So native folk of Derbyshire,
Stand tall and shout it loud.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (Bob Lean)
Our people, minds and heritage
Are things that make us proud.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (Ken Davies)
No other county's quite like ours -
So much past beneath your feet...
But the future's bright in Derbyshire.
It takes a lot to beat.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (Alan Rowe/Pip Horrocks)

Derbyshire, 2005

A representative sample of comments received

The poem is amazing.everything comes together so beautifully.I was born in Derbyshire,in the village of Clay Cross,and emigrated to Ontario Canada in1962.Made all the daily newspapers ,sailing on the EMPRESS OF CANADA in October of that year I would love to purchase a copy of our heritage poem.It makes me feel proud to be a Derbyshire girl;also made me homesick for Derbyshire.The poem touches on many things that make our County so special. Thankyou Sylvia McCarthy(nee Hodgkinson)
Sylvia mccarthy

I like the poem, but feel it should reflect those folks who have chosen to live in Derbyshire as well as 'native folk'. How about 'so good folk of Derbyshire' I am proud to say I live in Derbyshire.
Diane Smiles

Excellent poem. BUT the word "native" in the last verse means those BORN in Derbyshire. This excludes people like me who were born outside the county. Othes excluded are, for example, the Mayor of Derby, the Bishop of Derby and nearly the whole of Derby County FC. (And, for that matter, the late Brian Clough who actually features in the poem!) How about "Women and men of Derbyshire, Stand tall and shout it loud..."?
Fr Jonathan Page (Chaddesden)

Not a bad effort,but you can tell, it's mainly for Derby and the peaks, are you selling the north east and chesterfield off to south yorkshire, cos i do not like that cos I'm derbyshire born & derbyshire bred, strong in't arm and quick in't head
Ernie Fox

Brilliant It should be adopted as the official poem of Derby
Anne Turner

Rubbish!
James

I think this poem is wonderful and should be adopted as the official poem for Derbyshire, reflecting the talent of its writers and the brilliant area we live in
Sally

it reads very well,can it be sung?
ALAN BARKER

Creativity is not dead yet thank goodness. We should be proud of Derbyshire. It is a lovely county.
Malcolm Tunley

All true and brilliant, well done all.
Richard

last updated: 19/08/2008 at 10:52
created: 05/10/2005

You are in: Derby > Places > Places features > Your Derbyshire Poem



About the ´óÏó´«Ã½ | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy
Ìý