Death of Quaker poet
Distinguished Quaker poet Gerard Benson has died at the age of 83
The distinguished Quaker poet Gerard Benson has died at the age of 83. Gerard was well-known as a driving force behind the popular ‘Poems on the Underground’ scheme, which was set up in London twenty-eight years ago.
Gerard, who lived in Bradford with his wife Cathy, was made poet laureate of the town, which was his adopted home, in 2008. He contributed to the civic life of the city, including working with children in libraries and schools to help them get the most out of poetry. He was also one of the Barrow Poets.
Gerard recently made recordings in London for the world-famous online Poetry Archive. A Quaker, poet and teacher, he served as an intelligence decoder in Britain and also worked as a theatre actor.
The Poems on the Underground anthology was compiled by Gerard and two other poets, London-based American Judith Chernaik and Oxford resident Cicely Herbert. Gerard’s work included verses for major events, including the Bradford City fire disaster memorial services, civic services, the Lord Mayor’s installation service and Holocaust Memorial Day.
Gerard’s Memoir of A Jobbing Poet will be printed this year and there are plans to publish a book of his Bradford poems.
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