A POET AT WAR
You are invited to
a special Centenary celebration in Poetry and Music of the poet
MICHAEL THWAITES
with
Timothy West reader
Penelope Thwaites piano
Stephen Varcoe baritone
at
RHODES HOUSE
South Parks Road Oxford OX1 3RG
on
Thursday 22 October 2015 at 6pm
7.30pm Drinks
Please contact Rhodes House to reserve your place/s via the link below
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-poet-at-war-tickets-18605374175.
A Rhodes Scholar (1937) at New College, winner of the Newdigate Prize (1938) and later the King’s
Medal for Poetry,
Michael Thwaites served in the British Navy during the Second World War.
Some notable poems came out of that experience – including The Jervis Bay a stirring and moving
account of the sea battle which saved one of the vital convoys in the North Atlantic. Returning after
the war to Australia produced a rich variety of poems inspired by country, family, and wider
contemporary issues. Michael believed strongly in poetry read aloud and gave many programmes
with his pianist daughter in Australia and Europe, including one at Rhodes House in 1996.
International pianist and composer Penelope
Thwaites is delighted to be joined by the acclaimed
actor Timothy West and by the distinguished baritone Stephen Varcoe in celebrating the
centenary of her father, leading Australian poet Michael Thwaites. They present a fascinating
programme of his poetry, interspersed with evocative works by Chopin, Brahms, Schumann,
Rachmaninov and more, and including three song-settings of Michael’s poems.
Michael’s poems can be accessed at
michael.thwaites.com.au