Masefield Matters

31/08/2026

Did you spot this brilliant poem by Aiden Baker, inspired by John Masefield's 'Cargoes' in the .co.uk programme? We love it!


The National Lottery Heritage Fund

13/07/2026

There's still time, don't miss out! We’re looking for inspiring ideas to create a lasting memorial celebrating this remarkable Ledbury-born Poet Laureate. If you’re an artist, designer, or creative practitioner, we’d love to hear your vision. For further details, visit the link in our bio for the commissioning brief.

Masefield Matters is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund BBC Hereford & Worcester

09/07/2026

We had such a lovely time meeting fans of Masefield on Saturday. Over 300 of you turned up to witness this historic event. If you attended, we'd love to hear your thoughts on this fundraising events and any suggestions for future ones. Comment below, DM, or email Emma [email protected]

07/07/2026

An excerpt of 'Reynard the Fox' read by poet Zoe Brooks at Celebration Day on Sunday, part of Festival

14/06/2026

A big thank you to Captain Roger Francis and Captain Kevin Slade (Merchant Navy Association) for giving an interesting and engaging talk about life in the Merchant Navy, and careers at sea to John Masefield students last week.

John Masefield joined the training ship HMS Conway, aged just 13. He later became an officer in the Merchant Navy.

His time in the Merchant Navy profoundly shaped his life and career, inspiring his most famous nautical poems and his official accounts of merchant seamen in wartime.

05/06/2026

Artists and trail designers - we need you! Could you design the future of John Masefield's legacy with an engaging literary walking trail around Ledbury! Visit our website to find out more (commissioning brief is available via a PDF link)

www.ledburytowncouncil.gov.uk/masefield

Masefield Matters is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players, and Herefordshire BID.

01/06/2026

We're celebrating John Masefield's 148th birthday in partnership with Shakespeare's birthplace Trust with a carefully curated day about Masefield's connection to Shakespeare and Stratford, and about memorialisation of a town. 20 students from John Masefield High School joined Rev Dr Paul Edmondson and Dr Nick Walton for a wonderful day of learning and exploring.

And of course, no birthday celebration would be complete without a 'box of delights' and a candle to blow out on the cake

The National Lottery Heritage Fund

14/05/2026

As we celebrate the decision for the memorial to take the form of a trail in Ledbury, we begin to prepare for the commissioning phase. We will be releasing a brief in June in the hope of finding someone who can bring this vision to life! Keep your eyes peeled....

12/05/2026

11/05/2026

Have you spotted our event in the amazing festival programme? Feat. board member and JM expert Dr Philip W Errington and Sara-Jane Arbury. Tickets available from the Ledbury Poetry website.

'Perhaps best known for his work in later life as Poet Laureate, in 1915 John Masefield joined the British Red Cross as an orderly in France. After returning home, he wrote about the horrors of war that he experienced in four books: Gallipoli, The Old Front Line, War and the Future, and Battle of the Somme. An opportunity for history and poetry enthusiasts alike to hear from leading authority on Masefield, Philip Errington, with Masefield’s poems brought to life by Sara-Jane Arbury.'

Kindly sponsored by Nigel and Alison Falls