POETRY AND MUSIC - Fans of poetry and harp music are in for a treat next month at Orcop Church. The church is the final resting place of the famous poet Frances Horovitz, who died tragically of cancer aged 45 in 1983.

Building on its reputation as The Poets’ Church, on October 16, at 3pm, Poetry Amidst the Pastures will feature readings by Gillian Clarke and Adam Horovitz interspersed with harp pieces played by John Thomas. Gillian Clarke has been National Poet for Wales since 2008. She is president of Ty Newydd and a tutor in creative writing at the University of Glamorgan. Her recent books include A Recipe for Water, and a prose collection, At the Source.. Adam Horovitz, the son of Frances, is a poet, journalist and editor.

He has had a long association with the border country surrounding Orcop and his first poetry collection, Turning, will be released by Headland in 2011.

John Thomas studied the harp at the Paris Conservatoire for three years before returning to Wales for a degree in education and chemistry at Bangor.

For the past 40 years he has taught the harp and played at a wide variety of locations and functions including medieval banquets at Caldicot Castle.

Tickets at £10 each (to include interval refreshments) may be purchased from PATP, Whitehouse Farm, St Weonards, Hereford HR2 8QG, by sending a cheque payable to Orcop PCC with a stamped, self-addressed envelope.