Ian Kerry and the Humber Bridge

Tiny In All That Air

My guest today is Ian Kerry who is a photographer and Hull enthusiast. And today’s episode is a new direction for me as I take the microphone outside and travel 70 miles up the road from Sheffield to the Hessle Foreshore, sitting on a picnic bench taking in the view of the Humber Bridge. Ian, Gavin and I talk about the construction of the bridge and the effect of the bridge’s arrival on the local community and the changes to the landscape and human relationships that the bridge brought about. We read a selection of Larkin’s poems and prose and explore what the bridge and the wider Holderness area meant to Larkin. You will hear some ambient noises in the background- the wind, people walking past, the occasional car and seagull- I hope it helps to set the scene rather than presents a distraction!

We also hear PLS member Chris Sewart, reading Bridge for the Living in full. This was recorded on the other side of the river in Barton Upon Humber, with the south pillars of the bridge just behind us. Thank you Chris for taking the time to record this for us.

Larkin poems discussed:

Here, The Whitsun Weddings, Bridge for the Living, High Windows, Aubade, The Building, Friday Night in the Royal Station Hotel, Absences

Other references:

Ian’s English teacher- Kate Tordoff

A Rumoured City https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rumoured-City-New-Poets-Hull/dp/090642741X

Wizard of Oz (1939 dir Victor Fleming)

Monitor, Down Cemetery Road with Philip Larkin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coe11pgoj8E

Alex Howard https://alexhoward.org/about/

https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/35859

Joe Riley https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/joe-riley-presents-the-whitsun-weddings/id1486735740?i=1000664101367

Sketch Poetry podcast; https://open.spotify.com/show/4Ubm0zfLmjrOqVqMWulgf0

https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2010/jun/24/hull-inspires-poets What fresh Hull is this?

Philip Larkin's east Yorkshire home town has been called the most poetic city in England. Which town exercises – or defeats – your muse? By John Keenan

Songs for Humberside by Christopher Rowe and Ian Clark

https://www.discogs.com/release/3734583-Christopher-Rowe-Ian-Clark-Songs-For-Humberside?srsltid=AfmBOorFZyFqtjKQJDPeTX6e7CYglsETWEwiawNbWL4HNZWYIDbVignN

Bridging the Humber https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aepcHKLWgjs&t=1366s

Almost Instinct, Almost True booking link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/almost-instinct-almost-true-tickets-1334343379969?aff=oddtdtcreator

Music: Lazy River (Louis Armstrong) played by Sidney Bechet

Theme music:

The Horns of the Morning by Wes Finch and the Mechanicals Band

https://themechanicalsband.bandcamp.com/album/the-righteous-jazz

Produced by Lyn Lockwood and Gavin Hogg

Please email Lyn at ⁠[e-mail] ⁠ with any questions or comments

PLS Membership, events, merchandise and information: philiplarkin.com