EVENTS

NATIONAL POETRY DAY

THURS 9 OCT

London: Anne Harvey performs Winged Words - a celebration of Victorian women's poetry at the National Portrait Gallery, WC1 with Charlotte Harvey and Patricia Brake. 1.10pm-2.10pm. Free. 0181 997 6443.

Ruth Padel (below) and John Hartley Williams will be on hand to advise budding poets, 11am-5pm. Voice Box and Thames Pavilion, Royal Festival Hall, SE1. To reserve a slot, call The Poetry Library on 0171 921 0938.

Homer to Heaney and Back. A weekly reading workshop begins. 2pm-4pm, pounds 55 per term. The Voice Box, Royal Festival Hall, SE1. 0181 509 0090.

Northampton: David 'Stickman' Higgins performs. 8pm, pounds 3/pounds 2. Northamptonshire Central Library, Abingdon Street. 01604 26771.

Bristol: The Poetry Can's Stage the Page 2 presents a line-up of local poets. For details ring 0117 942 6976.

Ledbury: Ledury Poetry Festival. Special appearances by Jenny Joseph, 12- 2pm, and Peter Reading, 8-10pm, at the Feathers Hotel. Free. Call Festival Office 01531 634156

Manchester: Manchester Poetry Festival presents The Poetry Garden. Anyone can add their poem from 11am at the Central Library; from 2-3pm The Open Slot - get up and perform your poem live. For further information call 0161 907 0031.

On Air: BBC's Bookworm poll to find the nation's favourite love poem: lines are open until midnight on Tues 7. To vote, call 0891 33 88 00 (calls cost 25p max) giving the title and author of the poem. The winner will be announced Fri 10, 10.30pm, BBC1.