Tributes paid to renowned and popular Bromsgrove poet Sir Geoffrey Hill - The Bromsgrove Standard

Tributes paid to renowned and popular Bromsgrove poet Sir Geoffrey Hill

Bromsgrove Editorial 9th Jul, 2016 Updated: 17th Oct, 2016   0

TRIBUTES have been paid to Bromsgrove poet Sir Geoffrey Hill who died last Wednesday (June 30) at the age of 84.

His passing was announced by his wife Alice Goodman on Twitter.

She wrote: “Please pray for the repose of the soul of my husband, Geoffrey Hill, who died yesterday evening, suddenly, and without pain or dread.”

Since the post social media has been full of kind words for the author, who grew up in Fairfield. Popular passages from the prolific poet’s many works have also been posted online.




Jim Page, former chairman of Bromsgrove’s Housman Society, said: “He was immensely well-regarded in the world of poetry and brought up in Fairfield where his father was village policeman.

“The meanings of his poems are not easily accessible but increasingly in latter years they have harked back to his childhood and to Bromsgrove which was for him a kind of paradise.


“I wish greatly to believe; that Bromsgrove was, and is, Goldengrove; that the Orchards of Syon stand as I once glimpsed them.”

Mr Hill attended North Bromgsrove High School, previous named Bromsgrove County High, and was recently described as one of the greatest living poets in the English language.

The writer held respected positions in Leeds and Cambridge before making his way across the ocean to Boston university in America.

He gave several talks and in 2004 gave one to Bromsgrove’s Literary organisation WORDS about his upbringing in Fairfield.

The Standard has also received a short story entitled ‘The Toys’ Awakening’ which was written by Geoffrey Hill when he was just 13. It was included in the July 1945 edition of the Bromsgrove County High School Magazine.

To read the piece, visit this story on our www.bromsgrovestandard.co.uk website.

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