F. PHILIP HOLLAND.

WORK & LIFE EXPERIENCE.

Over 40 years Farming, as full-time working partner in family business. Paternal Holland family have farmed in Earl Sterndale for seven generations continually. Maternal side, Kinder family farmed in The High Peak area since 1385.

1955 - 1961; Earl Sterndale Primary School, Derbyshire, passing 11+ Exam.

1961 - 1966; Attended Buxton College Grammar School, passing 5 G.C.E.'O' Level Exams; Eng. Lang., Music, Art, Geography and History, also Maths C.S.E.  
         
:1956 - 1966; Passed all music exams, including Grade 8, Higher Local, with Honours, both solo and duet playing, (Associated Board and Trinity College)

Passed numerous exams with The Guildhall School of Speech and Drama, and The Poetry Society, etc., whilst studying with Miss Dorothy A. Watts, L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M. of Buxton, Derbyshire.

Took part in all the major Competitive Music and Drama Festivals in the North-West and Midlands with considerable success, gaining 55 Trophies, well over 200 Medals and First Prize Certificates.

1967 - 1969; Studied piano with Fanny Waterman, Founder of Leeds International Pianoforte Competition, becoming a semi-Professional Concert Pianist.

With sister, Joan Holland, were Runners-Up in the 1969 International Royal Overseas League Music Competition, London. (Piano-Duo)

Performed a Concert Recital at The 1969 Harrogate Festival of Arts and Sciences and entered the prestigious Countess of Munster Award.

Broadcast Recitals for the B.B.C. from Milton Hall Studios, Manchester, and gave concerts for many Charitable Organisations locally in Derbyshire.

1981 - 1994; Owning and running Swainsley Hall, in the Manifold Valley of the Peak District , a Country House Hotel, with first wife, Kathryn, and 2 children, Elizabeth and Edward.

2003 to Present day; Writing poetry, after many years of studying, reading, performing and thinking about it. 

2003 Onwards ; With second wife, Pat, as working Partner in J. Sidebotham & Son, Jewellers in Buxton, Derbyshire.


ACHIEVEMENTS & INTERESTS:

1975 - 1980; Formed and ran an independent Youth Club in Earl Sterndale.

1975 - 1982 ; On Committee of Wetteraukreis/High Peak Twinning Association. As Leader took 25 young people to Germany on 2nd Exchange Visit.

1975 - 1993 ; Wrote, produced and directed all the Plays and Entertainments for Buxton Young Farmers Club for many years, gaining many successes at Derbyshire, East Midlands, North of England and National levels of competition.

1979 - 1982: School Governor of Earl Sterndale School, Derbyshire.

1990 - 1993 ; Formed and ran The Cousins Choir of 14 children, - all from  immediate family, comprising of own children and 12 nieces and nephews!

Trustee of Methodist Chapel, Earl Sterndale for 10 years.

1990 - 2004; On Committee of Buxton Music, Speech and Drama Festival.

1999 to present; Member of Buxton Rotary Club.  On the Youth Services Committee and has organised and performed in the Concerts for the Visually Impaired in Buxton for the last seven years. Also Joint Adjudicator at Rotary's 'Youth Presents Music' at Manchester College of Music.

2000; Completed 2 'Clait' Computer courses Harpur Hill College, Derbyshire.

2002 to present; Trustee & currently Vice-Chairman, of Burbage Institute, Buxton.

2004; Successfully completed 2 Courses in 'Creative Writing' at Harpur Hill College, Buxton.

2005 Onwards; Enrolled as full-time student at Derby University, Buxton Campus, on 3 year Joint Honours Degree Course in English and Creative Writing.

POETRY PUBLICATIONS & AWARDS:

Self-published 4 Anthologies, viz: Selected Poems (2004), More Poems (2005),  Poetry Times Three (2006) and Fourth in Line (2007). All of which may be read in The Derbyshire County Library Services six main Libraries.

The poetry and anthologies have been reviewed and published in Local Life magazine, Buxton Festival Fringe, Country Images magazine, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Buxton Advertiser, Reflections magazine, Leek Post and Times, etc.

Contributor in 'The Verbal Hedonists' and 'Writers Reign' publications and performances at Derby University, Buxton Campus.

2004; 2 poems chosen in The London Art Co. U.K. The Art of Love Competition, From over 1,500 poems submitted by over 500 National and International Poets,' The Girl with Auburn Hair' and 'Once' were both exhibited in The Oxo Tower and Bargehouse on the South Bank for 3 weeks.

2005; 'The Coot', was chosen by Templar Poetry, and published in September, in 'The Arnemetiae', (The Derbyshire Community Poetry Anthology).

2006; A set of Haiku poems; 'Four' was chosen by The Norwich Writers Circle for publication in their 2007 Anthology.

2007; 'The Gather' was Joint Winner of The Huddersfield Literary Festivals Open Poetry Competition, organised by 'The Poetry Business' in Huddersfield.

2007; 'The Gather' was also published in the prestigious 'The North' (June edition) Magazine by Smith/Doorstop/ Publications.


POETRY PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE:

The Buxton Festival Fringe: See 'Reviews' and 'Awards and Nominations' at www.buxtonfringe.org.uk.

2004 - 'Philip, his Poems and Piano' (3 recitals) - Nominated and Runner-up for The Spoken Word Award.

2005 - 'More Poems, with some Piano' (3 Recitals)

2006 - 'Philip, Poetry and Piano' (3 Recitals)

2006 - 'The Verbal Hedonists' in 'The Dome' of Derby University, Buxton

2007 - 'Philip, Poetry and a little Piano' (4 Recitals) - 2 Nominations; Runner-up for both Spoken Word and Best New Writing Award).

2007 - 'Writers Reign' Lecture Theatre of Derby University, Buxton.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
2005 - Three Recitals in St. Mark's Unitarian Church, Castle Terrace. Edinburgh.

Local Radio:  Over the last 5 years given Live Readings on B.B.C. Radio Derby, B.B.C. Radio Sheffield, and High Peak Radio.

Poetry Performance: Readings at many different Societies and Clubs, including;
Buxton Willoughby Club (supporting Buxton Opera House).
Romiley Music, Poetry and Art Group - Romiley Forum.
Buxton Riding For The Disabled.
Marple Poetry Society. (Marple Library)
St. James the Less Preservation Trust Literary Series ñ New Mills.
Buxton Visually Impaired. (through Rotary Club)
Chesterfield Masonic Lodge,  Local W.I. Clubs,
Buxton U.3.A., Tangent Club, Inner Wheel, etc.