OLD GIRLS

Joan Bonfield's son, Richard, is the Poet in Residence for the Born Free Foundation.  Joan was in touch with the Old Girls' Association, absolutely delighted with this news. First, a little of Joan's story. Joan went to Malvern Girls' College in the Summer Term 1945. She described vividly seeing the Malvern Hills alight with bonfires as the news that War in Europe had come to an end. Of her days at MGC, she says, 'she loved it all'. She is also one of that generation who astounds the modern listener as she describes being taught to smoke a cigarette by the Headmistress, Miss Brooks, who told her that she could offer cigarettes when the mistresses came to tea and also at prefects' tea on Sunday.  She did secretarial training and later returned to College for 18 months to be a secretary.  Returning to her home area, she married and Richard was only 2, with a younger brother 3 months old, when she collapsed with a cerebral aneurism.  She was only 29: she recovered and was advised by her specialist that it was safe to have another baby, but when she was 7 and a half months pregnant she had a stroke.  From talking to her, it is clear that a pretty indomitable spirit enabled her to overcome these terrible difficulties.

And what of Richard's story? Let Virginia McKenna, Born Free Founder & Trustee, start, 'When I first read Richard Bonfield's extraordinary poem ‘The Beautiful Alphabet', never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day he would be Born Free's Poet in Residence. The beauty and vulnerability of nature, the need to live in harmony with other creatures, their plight when we don't – all this is expressed in the most poignant, perceptive and original language. How fortunate we are to have such a person to help the animals and inspire us.'

Richard's first experience of poetry came when, at the tender age of 5, his father gave him a beautiful miniature edition of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam in the famous Fitzgerald translation which has hooked him in a noose of poetic light ever since. The book, which still sits in his bookcase, is beautifully illustrated with watercolour washes of Arabia and this conjunction of poetry and art has informed all his subsequent work. Educated at Wyggeston Boys Grammar School in Leicester following in the illustrious footsteps of the Attenboroughs, he briefly considered running away to sea, then decided to take an Honours Degree in Development Studies at The University of East Anglia.

In 1989 he went on the Enterprise Allowance Scheme as a writer and it was during this period that he wrote a column entitled ‘The Social Incompetent's Handbook for The Truth' edited by Cover's former editor Steve Caplin which was syndicated through W.H. Smith to a wildly appreciative audience countrywide. At the age of 30 and rapidly going nowhere, busily doing nothing, he wrote his first proper poem First Fire whilst cat - napping by the autumnal wood burner in his marvellous if draughty Victorian flat.

Richard's first self-published collection ‘A Bestiary an Animal Alphabet' was included in The Books of the Year in the Independent on Sunday in 1993, his second ‘Swan for all Seasons' came out to similar acclaim in 1997 and ‘Menagerie another Animal Alphabet' and a companion piece to ‘A Bestiary' was published to warm applause in 2004 .

Claire Riggall, Editor of Poetry Nottingham writes,'It was in late 1990 that Richard's first packet of poems hit my desk. I was used to the standard poetic fare of the small presses—how lovely love is, the miracle of birth and the miseries of the dole queue — As I unfolded and read ‘Elephant' that morning I knew I was hearing a new voice with something important to say. From the celebration of “the great earth whale” to the deep anger and pity for the ivory trinkets “that litter the mantelpiece of Africa “ I knew I had struck gold, that, as Wilfred Owen remarked "the poetry is in the pity".'

Richard has won numerous citations for his work over the years and was one of the prize-winners in the BBC Wildlife Magazine Poet of the Year competition in 2002 with his poem ‘Zooplankton' and he was the only poet commended in the adult category of the competition in 2009 for his poem ‘Daddy Long Legs.

Photo taken by Anna-Louise Pickering

A few breathtaking lines from 'The Beautiful Alphabet' will have readers searching to acquire the full text.

'What were Tigers...? said the child

They were muscled furnaces said the mother…

And what were Elephants....? said the child

They were skin houses said the father…

And Dolphins...? said the child

They were sea-planes - said the mother…

And where have they gone...? Said the child..

And the Alphabet is chrome and steel..

Can we go there sometime - said the child
And learn The Beautiful Alphabet....?

Sometime... said the mother and father
With tearful sighs........

Then they switched out the light in their daughter's eyes.

Copyright of Richard Bonfield

Now available on the Born Free website as a reading by Virginia McKenna
www.bornfree.org.uk/get-involved/wildlife-poetry 

“When Virginia McKenna asked me if I would like to be Poet in Residence my answer was a ‘no brainer' as there was no doubt this was the ultimate accolade. It is to be asked to be Poet Laureate for the whole of suffering nature.”

‘Animated Nature' is his fourth collection proper and a distillation, cross examination and pollination of all his previous volumes and a wealth of new and previously uncollected material.

The cover of Richard's book features a painting by the wonderfully talented artist, Pollyanna Pickering, who has her own charity 'The Pollyanna Pickering Foundation'. Jenni Murray said on Radio Four, "Pollyanna Pickering is considered one of the best Wildlife Artists in the World". Pollyanna's daughter, Anna-Louise, is an accomplished professional photographer in her own right and travels with her mother all over the world documenting their journeys in photographic form. The photo of Richard reading poetry by the sculpure of an elephant is taken by Anna-Louise Pickering. www.pollyannapickering.co.uk

At the launch of this publication, funds will be raised for Born Free, now in this special 25th Anniversary Year. Pollyanna and Anna-Louise will also be at the launch of 'Animated Nature', bringing some of her large pictures of Elsa painted for the Anniversary and some limited edition prints of the Animated Nature cover. www.bornfree.org.uk/get-involved/wildlife-poetry

If you wish to reserve your copy of 'Animated Nature' in advance and help pay for the printing simply send your details to Richard at the address below. All subscribers will have their names included as benefactors at the front of the collection.

The collection will retail at £9.99 (+ £1.50 postage and packing if you live outside Leicester)

Please make all cheques payable to Richard Bonfield and either give them to Richard or post your subscription to: 18 Poppy Close, The Maltings, Leicester, LE2 6UR.

email: 

All monies are paid into a separate account created for the purpose. Please feel free to email or write to enquire on progress at any time. All orders must be returned by the end of November 2009.