Commonwealth Poetry Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Walking Around the Commonwealth with Hugo Vickers and Jim Walker Mar 12, 2023

Show notes

Did you know, there is a 1,000 km walkable path connecting the Commonwealth? In this week’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth go on a virtual walk to find out all about the work of the Commonwealth Walkway Trust. Speaking to the Trust’s CEO Jim Walker, and to Royal Biographer and trustee Hugo Vickers, together they share their stories of walking in each Commonwealth Country and the collaborative ambition to create safe, easy to access places to walk with a unifying path that connects people and places. Poems this episode include: A Nervous Governor-General by Andrew Barton Paterson (Banjo Paterson); Bird on the Wire by Leonard Cohen and Upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth.

Discovering Malta and its Poetry with the Maltese High Commissioner Mar 05, 2023

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In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet with H.E. Emmanuel Mallia, High Commissioner for Malta in the UK. Emmanuel Mallia talks about the part that poetry has played in his life, describing poetry as something that you feel inside. Discussing the poetry of Malta from the oldest known literary text in the Maltese language, a poem dating from around 1485, to the poems and hymns of Dun Karm Psaila. Dun Karm who was a priest, writer and poet, is widely recognised as the Maltese National Poet and wrote the lyrics for the Maltese National Anthem.

Poems in this episode include: Lil Ommi (To My Mother) by Rużar Briffa; and L-Innu ta'Filgħaxija (A Hymn for the Evening) by Dun Karm Psaila.

Next stop Sri Lanka with Danny Sriskandarajah, CEO of Oxfam UK Feb 19, 2023

Show notes

Join Gyles and Aphra Brandreth as they meet the Chief Executive of Oxam, Danny Sriskandarajah, who shares his story growing up on a small island in Sri Lanka. Recalling the happy memories of his childhood as well as the lasting impacts of the Sri Lanken civil war that would displace his family. Danny reads poems from the ancient Tamil text, Thirukural, as well as sharing poems that highlight different aspects of the war in Sri Lanka from his perspective as a Sri Lanken Tamil.

Highlighting the important work of Oxfam, as he puts it, when in the world today there are more people in need of humanitarian assistance than there have been at any time since the second world war. Danny also reads Carol Ann Duffy’s fun poem about Oxfam.

Poems in this episode include: Two poems from the ancient Tamil text – Thirukural; When they shot him dead by Cheran; A plot of land by Cheran; Nanthikadal by Nillanthan; Colonization in Reverse by Louise Bennett-Coverley; and Oxfam by Carol Ann Duffy

Discovering Tuvalu with H.E. Dr Sir Iftikhar Ayaz Feb 05, 2023

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Join Gyles & Aphra Brandreth as they venture to the west-central Pacific Ocean to explore the 4th smallest country in the world by land mass, and a country where the population is less than 12,000, Tuvalu. Speaking to the Honorary Consul General for Tuvalu in the UK, H.E. Dr Sir Iftikhar Ayaz, we learn about Tuvalu’s past and its future, in a country where the threat of climate change is immediate with most of the islands sitting barely three meters above sea level. Poems in this episode include: Tuvalu, Tuvalu an original poem by Sir Iftikhar Ayaz KBE, first recited at the Commonwealth Foundation's Festive Poetry Event; an English translation of a Climate Song by Maina Talia; and Tuvalu Blues by Selina Tusitala Marsh.

Exploring New Zealand with former High Commissioner to the UK – His Excellency Bede Corry Jan 22, 2023

Show notes

In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth’s journey around the Commonwealth takes them to New Zealand where they meet H. E. Bede Corry – the New Zealand High Commissioner to the UK at the time of recording and now the Ambassador to the USA. Meeting at the High Commission in London, he shares his love of New Zealand, and Literature, and discusses New Zealand’s poetry.

Poems this episode include Song of Allegiance, by R.A.K. Mason; Huia, by Bill Manhire; and Immigrant, by Fleur Adcock

Celebrating the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition Winners with special guests Geri Horner, Alexandra Burke and  Ayesha Dharker Jan 08, 2023

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Start the new year with a special podcast episode recorded from the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace. In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet the young winners from across the Commonwealth of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. With special guest appearances from three of the ambassadors of the Royal Commonwealth Society: Geri Horner, Alexandra Burke and Ayesha Dharker.

In this episode the young competition winners share poems they wrote in 60 seconds! And we hear the winning poems: Catalina by Madeleine Wood, Junior Winner, aged 14 From Australia; and Nursing Homes by Amaal Fawzi, Senior Runner-up aged 17 from UK

Next Stop Trinidad & Tobago for a Christmas Day Special Episode with Floella Benjamin Dec 25, 2022

Show notes

Join Gyles and Aphra Brandreth for a special Christmas episode with Baroness Floella Benjamin OM DBE. The Trinidadian born actress, presenter, broadcaster and parliamentarian, currently Chairs the Windrush Commemoration Committee and was recently awarded the Order of Merit. She has written over 30 books with her memoir ‘Coming To England’ now studied in schools. In this episode she shares her memories of growing up as a young child in Trinidad before moving to Britain, and the huge culture shock and difficulties that she faced when she arrived. Bringing her energy, joy of singing and passion for inspiring children and young people, she shares and sings traditional Trinidadian folk songs and rhymes from her childhood including Brown Girl in the Ring, Clap Hands for Mammy and T’is Long Time Gal Me Never See Yuh

Exploring Canada and its poetry with Dr Theresa Muñoz Dec 11, 2022

Show notes

In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Dr Theresa Muñoz a poet and researcher based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Winner of the Muriel Spark Centenary award, RLS Fellowship & Creative Scotland Project Grant, Theresa’s poems have appeared in journals across the Atlantic. Her debut collection Settle (Vagabond Voices, 2016), shortlisted for the Melita Hume Poetry prize. Discussing Canadian poetry and sharing some of her own poems, join us as we explore the second largest country in the world.

Poems this episode include: Dark Pines Under Water By Gwendolyn MacEwen; Daddy Foucault by Theresa Muñoz; and Simpsons Dept Store, Toronto by Theresa Muñoz

Next stop Nigeria with Booker Prize winning author and poet Ben Okri Nov 27, 2022

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In this episode Gyles & Aphra Brandreth travel to Nigeria to meet Ben Okri. The Booker Prize winning author is a poet, novelist, essayist, short story writer, anthologist, aphorist, and playwright. Ben was born in Minna in the North of Nigeria before moving to England as a young child. Together with his family, aged 7 years old, he returned to Nigeria on the cusp of the civil war, something which was to have a defining impact on his life and work.

Poems in this episode include Ibadan by J. P. Clark, I Anoint My Flesh by Wole Soyinka, Heavensgate For Georgette by Christopher Okibo and three of Ben Okri’s poems: An African Elegy; Finding the Present and And If You Should Leave Me.

Brought to you from the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, this episode includes guest contributions from Shantall Agoreyo & Olawale Adediran - Masters students from the University of Chester who are part of our Commonwealth Poetry Podcast production team.

Their name liveth for evermore – an interview with HRH The Duke of Kent for Remembrance Sunday Nov 13, 2022

Show notes

In this episode Gyles & Aphra Brandreth are joined by HRH The Duke of Kent, President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and Royal biographer Hugo Vickers, for a special recording to mark Remembrance Sunday.

Speaking from York House in London they share war poems from across the Commonwealth to remember the contribution and sacrifice of the many men and women from all around the Commonwealth who died during both world wars. This episode highlights the incredible work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, a global organisation, which cares for war graves at 23,000 locations in more than 150 countries and which commemorate almost 1.7 million individuals.

Poems this episode include: In Flanders Fields By John McCrae; The Gift of India by Sarojini Naidu; and The Landing By George Street.

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