SwanseaEP

- New Living Traditions -

(caption to picture) BACK AGAIN Poet Glyn Watkins is paying a visit to his childhood home - Swansea
(picture reference D040913/2641/GM)

(Headline) Pint of mild draws poet

Poet and illustrator Glyn Watkins has been drinking in the sights and sounds of his beloved Swansea after a 15 year absence.
And one of the priorities on his whistle-stop trip was to sample a pint of mild beer.
He left his native Gorseinon as a very young child and he has spent most of his life in Bradford as a supply teacher.
But he carried on his writing and drawing as a hobby until a bout of pneumonia forced him to re-evaluate.
The result is the recent publication of two books, both based on quirky themes.
The Little Red Head Book is a homage to Bradford City footballer Wayne Jacobs, while Walburgas is the result of a romantic faux pas 20 years ago.
"I forgot to send my girlfriend then a Valentine's card. I felt a proper idiot and decided to get hold of a book on saints."
His attention was drawn to February 25 and the entry dedicated to St. Walburga, an Anglo Saxon who help convert Germans to Christianity.
He liked the name and immediately re-adapted it so she became the patron saint of the forgetful.v Glyn then started producing Walburga cards containing poetry and drawing and sent them out to friends on February 25 every year.
"I must have sent out about 100 this year to friends." he said.