For press and interview enquiries please contact Liz Holland on 07832 21365 or email: philipholland@uwclub.net

Remember to check back here to keep up to date with news and events, new works and also reviews of my poetry and recitals.

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Compilation CD - Work in progress
Currently being produced is a compilation CD of some of the best poems, taken from each of the four anthologies. Visitors to the site will have the option to purchase the compilation as an audio DVD.

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Words of the White Peak - The disappearing dialect of a Derbyshire village.
ISBN 9781 898670 155. Published by Anecdotes Publishing, Buxton. Available to buy for £8.95 in selected outlets throughout Derbyshire.

This book includes a Foreword by the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, who writes-

This book has been written just in time. The richness of a fast disappearing vocabulary in what was once a remote area of the High Peak is very fascinating....
It is wonderful that the results of F.Philip Holland’s research and memories have been collected in this book to remind us of what has gone before.

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Publications
"Four", a set of 4 Haiku poems, was chosen for publication by the Norwich Writers Circle Open Poetry Competition 2007.

"The Gather" was published in "The North" June edition. Published by Smith/Doorstop Books.

“The Coot”, was chosen by ‘Templar Poetry’ and published in September, ’05 in “The Arnemetiae Derbyshire Community Poetry Anthology.” 


Philip has a number of recitals booked for autumn/winter 2008.

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Buxton Festival Fringe - Spoken Word Reviews 2007
*F. PHILIP HOLLAND - Philip, Poetry and Piano

A very simple recipe - a short introduction, a little music and a reading of one of his poems. Repeat, varying the music and the poetry, and serve warm to a satisfied audience.

Philip has an easy manner and a comfortable voice that gently washes over the attentive audience, drawing them in to his work. With many of his poems having a nature theme: buzzards, bats and hedgehogs, Philip could have a slot of his own on next year's Springwatch.

A humorous poem titled "The Menu" proved popular, with spontaneous applause breaking out, partly for the sentiment and partly for the delivery. "The Gather" was a little more sombre, but clearly touched a chord with some of those in the audience. Some were of local flavour, with "The Slaughter" drawing on Philip's farming days and "Magpie Mine" recalling the days when lead mining was an important part of local industry. "Youn 'af fert' flit", a piece in the Derbyshire dialect told a sad folk tale. Not every word was necessarily understood by those of us not from the region, but the story and the sense were easily followed and wonderfully conveyed and acted by the writer. (Philip's latest publication of his recent poems, "Fourth in line" contains a translation, which surely is good enough reason to purchase it in itself!)

In short, to spend time in the company of this genial man, with his poems book-ended by a little light piano playing is a very agreeable way to spend an hour, and one I commend to you.

"The village organist aspires

To play the tunes that God desires.

And by the light of sun or moon,

Just hopes the angels sing in tune!"

From The Village Organist, by F Philip Holland

Maria Carnegie

7 July 2007

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Buxton Festival Fringe - Spoken Word Reviews 2006
*F. PHILIP HOLLAND - Philip, Poetry and Piano

Philip's poetry is quarried from his Derbyshire and flows with the unconscious, natural speech rhythms and dialect of his locality, The theme of natural change is celebrated with a sense of security about our place in time using contemplative, perceptive poems that make you respond with a wry smile of recognition or laugh out loud with shared appreciation and understanding.

We had the opportunity to enjoy about twenty poems read by their author, which celebrated the senses - a visual treat for the ears.

His influences of original music compliment the poetry and give an opportunity to reflect on the pictures he has placed in your mind. The dynamics of the music are reflected in the poetry, Which is read with the energy, and commitment of work performed by its author. Like forcing down a good meal too quickly, I would have enjoyed a slower pace and more anecdotes about the poet and his creative process.

The diversity within the poet is entertaining with an amusing, allegorical free verse about the life of a pair of shoes, a parody of a rhyming poem John Betjeman may have penned on a wet High Street; to my personal favourite, The Gather, a poem that works like a riddle and is full of the fresh voice of a new poet sharing a moment of heightened emotion.

The advantage of this entertainment is that, although Philip's voice is not available to take home, copies of his books are on sale and in his words, 'lay in a handy place to re-read and enjoy once again'.

Alyson Phillips.

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Buxton Festival Fringe - Spoken Word Reviews 2005
*F. PHILIP HOLLAND - More poems - With Some Piano

It is good to see Philip back on the Fringe again and with a new collection of poems. Now we can begin to see the development of his own authentic voice speaking about the things which interest him; the countryside as expected from someone who has spent the greater part of his life farming, music as also expected from a fine musician, but other sources as well such as curtains, and rhinos in South Africa.

Philip reads his poems with quiet confidence which is mist attractive. The addition of musical excerpts introducing and closing poems and sometime between them the verses serves to point up the particular quality of each poem and heightens our enjoyment.

A delightful way to spend an hour on a summer's day in Buxton.

P.L.

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2004 Reviews
Philip, his Poetry - and Piano

At the Old Hall Hotel

Philip Holland is a man of many parts - dairy farmer, accomplished musician and now a poet. Relying on these talents he presented a delightful programme of poems interspersed with piano pieces.

This is a very professional presentation. The poems reflect moments in Philip's life lived mainly as a farmer on the Derbyshire Staffordshire border. Read aloud they evoke the poet's love of the countryside where he worked through the seasons patiently tending his sheep and cattle and the land that surrounded them all. Other poems reveal Philip's interest in history, sculpture and wild life.

And to compliment the poems he played music which he had chosen to suit the mood of the verse. Sometimes the music was used to introduce the poem, sometimes as a conclusion and occasionally to point up a particular incident or sentiment. The overall result was most compelling. A capacity audience in the Piano Lounge of the Old Hall Hotel was enchanted.

P.L.

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Buxton Festival Fringe Awards 2008

Best new writing. "Poetry and Piano"


Huddersfield Literary Festival Open 2007

Joint winner. "The Gather".


Buxton Festival Fringe Awards 2004
Spoken Word

Nominated: Philip, his poetry and his piano,
Time in Place.