Tom Pickard
Poet and film-maker
Poet and film-maker particularly concerned with social activism. In 1963 Pickard founded the influential Morden Tower Book Room in Newcastle upon Tyne scheduling readings by British and American contemporary poets. His collections include High on the Walls (1968), The Dark Months of May (2004) and the Ballad of Jamie Allan (2007), the subsequent opera of which Pickard wrote the libretto.
From ‘dawn raid on an orchard’ in Custom and Exile (London: Allison & Busby, 1985)Running soft in rubber shoes, trailing clouds of breath
we knew that property was theft.
where we liveFrom ‘The Devil’s Destroying Angel Exploded’ in Tiepin Eros (Newcastle: Bloodaxe, 1994)
shattered smiles
break on haggard faces
Tom Pickard
by (John) Edward McKenzie Lucie-Smith
bromide print, May 1970
NPG x21773
© Edward Lucie-Smith / National Portrait Gallery, London
Al Alvarez
Benjamin Zephaniah
Charles Tomlinson
Derek Mahon
Felix Dennis
Gwyneth Lewis
Jo Shapcott
Kathleen Jamie
Michael Rosen
Paul Benedict Muldoon
Simon Armitage
Tom Pickard
Benjamin Zephaniah
Charles Tomlinson
Derek Mahon
Felix Dennis
Gwyneth Lewis
Jo Shapcott
Kathleen Jamie
Michael Rosen
Paul Benedict Muldoon
Simon Armitage
Tom Pickard
Adam Foulds
Bernard O'Donoghue
Christopher Reid
Derek Walcott
Fleur Adcock
Helen Dunmore
John Agard
Lemn Sissay
Mimi Khalvati
Paul Farley
Sophie Hannah
Bernard O'Donoghue
Christopher Reid
Derek Walcott
Fleur Adcock
Helen Dunmore
John Agard
Lemn Sissay
Mimi Khalvati
Paul Farley
Sophie Hannah
Andrew Motion
Billy Childish
Craig Anthony Raine
Don Paterson
Geoffrey Hill
Herb Wharton
John Hegley
Les Murray
Michael Andrew Bridge Morpurgo
Owen Sheers
Roger McGough
Billy Childish
Craig Anthony Raine
Don Paterson
Geoffrey Hill
Herb Wharton
John Hegley
Les Murray
Michael Andrew Bridge Morpurgo
Owen Sheers
Roger McGough