A MARVELLOUS milestone will be marked when this year’s AE Housman commemoration is held in Bromsgrove Town Centre.
This will be the 30th time members of The Housman Society, residents and civic dignitaries have gathered for the special occasion.
The first time, by the statue in the High Street, took place in 1987 after Jim Page took over from John Pugh as chairman.
This will also be the last time Jim presides over the celebration after he announced his retirement at the group’s AGM.
On that occasion the Society presented him with a handsome hand-bound copy of the Tern Press A Shropshire Lad with wood engravings by Nicholas Parry in recognition of his 29 years of service.
Because of Easter falling early, this year’s event will be held at 12.30pm on March 29.
That will be three days after the 157th anniversary of Housman’s actual birthday – March 26, 1859.
The guest of honour on the day will be Dennis Norton who last year made a vital contribution to improving its unfinished appearance when the statue had to be moved as part of the High Street regeneration programme.
This is a busy time for the society as the Ludlow Commemoration follows on April 30 and the Name and Nature of Poetry Lecture, which the Society sponsors at the Hay Festival of Literature, takes place at the end of May.
