From Sue Holgate, Chair of the John Clare Society Committee
We should like to invite Clare Society members new and old to consider joining our committee, which has a number of vacancies coming up due to retirements. There are also many opportunities to help in other ways too, especially with our annual Festival and other events. No specialist knowledge needed – we welcome all abilities and talents, and feel that many of our members may have something to contribute, even if it is a small role and even if the time they have available is limited.
We especially welcome academics, Romanticists, Victorianists, Clare-lovers, natural historians and poetry readers. If you are not a JCS member you can still help out with our annual July Festival (which needs a lot of ‘rebuilding’ after the lockdown years), and with other events.
Involvement in running a literary society and its activities can be very rewarding for young and old alike. For students, postgraduates and junior academics it can help build valuable experience, offer impactful collaborative opportunities, and boost your CV.
The Society depends entirely on voluntary work by ordinary members, and has done so successfully for the past 43 years. Please help us to continue to our second half-century of celebrating John Clare and his world. Contact me for more information.
smholgate@outlook.com