One of the many advantages about being located Cheltenham is the array of cultural opportunities on our doorstep. As well as the Science, Music, Jazz and Literature Festivals, a Cheltenham Poetry Festival also takes place every April. This is the second year that we have supported the event at College, both as a venue and as a speaker.

On Thursday 19 April at 6pm in Thirlestaine Long Gallery, Head of English (and Poetry Slam expert) Mr Tim Brewis will be giving a lecture on Edward Thomas, specifically the evolution of his poetry between 1914 and 1917. He will explore the major influences on his work and his method of composition, examining aspects of a number of his poems in detail. TLG will also be host to another poetry event on Sunday 22 April at 3.30pm; Welsh poet, author, scriptwriter, presenter (and Patron of Cheltenham Poetry Festival); Owen Sheers who will be reading a new work and talking about his career.

Cheltenham Poetry Festival runs every April and its wide programme includes readings by internationally writers, fusion events blending music, visual arts and poetry, workshops, comedy, slams and much more. For more information and to book tickets, please visit: www.cheltenhampoetryfest.co.uk

About Mr Brewis and his passion for poetry:

I have been writing "page" poetry since I was in sixth form; my main influences are Hardy, Wilfred Owen, Edward Thomas, Keith Douglas and Norman MacCaig. I write a lot aboutman's relationship with the natural world, about human relationships and about war. As an ex-Army Officer the latter is of particular interest to me, given the recentconflict in Iraq, and the ongoing war in Afghanistan. I aim to explore through my work the reality of war in the 21st Century, particularly in terms of its psychological impact on all thosetouched by it.

Recently my poetry has been recognised on a national level: in November 2011 I was one of 11 winners of the Port Sunlight 11/11/11 Open War Poetry Competition, and in February 2012 it was announced that I had been selected as one of 6 winners of The Poetry Society's Spring 2012 poetry competition, for which the theme set was 'War'. The latter is a particular honour, which, in April, will see my poem published in The Poetry Society's 'Poetry News'.

Since 2006, I have been composing performance poetry and participating in poetry slams in and around Cheltenham. Slams are held over three rounds; poets have three minutes atthe mike to perform their own material, which is scored by a number of judges who scrutinise quality of performance, quality of written poetry and the warmth of the audienceresponse. After the first round, a number of the highest scoring poets go through to the second round, when they have another 3 minutes at the mike. Eventually, in the 3rd round,there are only two or perhaps three poets left competing for victory.

Slams are very lively and great audience events; they are also fantastic, inspiring places to hear excellent poetryand a variety of poetic styles. I have learnt a lot about performance poetry over the past years - watching other poets in action has helped me to improve my own writing, so much sothat in 2010 I was delighted to be judged runner-up in the Cheltenham Science Festival "Slam the Atom" Slam. Further successes have followed. In February 2011 I was judged overall winner of the Cirencester Big Love Slam, and in October 2011 I won the Times Cheltenham Literature Festival UK All Stars Poetry Slam. The latter is one of the most prestigious slams on the UK circuit and so to be judged champion was fantastic.

2012 is set to be a busy year; aside from the Swindon and Ledbury Poetry Festival slams in June, I have been invited to perform at the Hullabaloo and Wychwood Festivals - a great opportunity to reach a bigger, more diverse audience.