Plan for Shropshire war poet Wilfred Owen's day gathers steam
An event to commemorate Shropshire war poet Wilfred Owen will take place in the autumn. Organisers of the new initiative claim a resurgence of interest in the poet could create a new tourism industry.
The 'prototype' Wilfred Owen Day will be held in Oswestry on October 9 and will culminate in a performance of Bullets & Daffodils, a musical drama about the poet's life which recently played in the West End.
Organiser Dean Johnson said: "The idea of a Wilfred Owen Day has been around for some time locally and is now gathering steam as the 2014 Great War Centenary approaches.
"It will be a key element in the town's tourism efforts in two or three years' time but we can't wait for that. We think it's time to get moving.
"This will be the start of a new tourism industry. The Olympics have shown people that this is a good time to celebrate our heritage."
The day will feature a number of events hosted by Oswestry Library from 1pm to 5pm. Businessman John Waine, who runs the Best of Oswestry website, will lead a discussion about Wilfred Owen themed tourism and celebrity author Gladys Mary Coles will give a talk about her new book 'Clay' whose title is inspired by one of Wilfred Owen's most famous poems.
Mr Johnson will speak on the subject of his own researches into Wilfred Owen's life in Birkenhead and there will be the opportunity to meet the cast of Bullets & Daffodils including narrator, the actor Christopher Timothy.
Further details of the library programme will be published when known.
Bullets and Daffodils will be performed at 7.30pm at Oswestry Cricket Club, Morda Road. The land on which it stands was part of Plas Wilmot, Wilfred Owen's birthplace, at the time of his birth in 1893.
Mr Johnson said: "We are taking the show back where it started."
