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I also wanted to let you know about a coincidence or perhaps a batch of coincidences. When my Mum was a young woman growing up in the East End she was hugely lucky to be helped and mentored by a solicitor practising in Plaistow called Bill Cornish. Ultimately my Mum qualified as a solicitor in her thirties having been an evacuee, come from a family of ten and known poverty. 

You’re probably wondering what this has to do with your new collection. Stay with me please! As children my sister and I were often taken to visit Mr Cornish and his wife Winnie in Leigh on Sea, where they had retired. Always dressed, of course, in our best frocks and manners. The Cornishes had one daughter called Anne who had two sons called Robert and Peter (now we’re getting there…) Sometimes they would come over and we would play – what, I can’t remember, but there was a summerhouse and a garden. 

Years later my daughter married a boy from Chesham called Joel (I promise this is relevant) and somehow we discovered that his art teacher at Dr Challoners School in Amersham was that same Peter I used to play with. Strange, I thought at the time, but just a coincidence. 

My parents have been dead some long while but I have kept my Mum’s copious papers. Last week (for the first time in ages) I was looking through and came across the Cornish file. There are many letters from Mr Cornish, Anne, Anne’s husband, Bill and even some from their sons, I think. I spent a happy half hour reading and then messaged my daughter, whose son Theo is starting at Dr Challoners this week, and wondered whether Peter, the art teacher, was still at the school, and might teach Theo. What fun for Theo to be able to say to his teacher – you used to play with my Nan – although he wouldn’t of course being a pre adolescent boy. 

And then your email came with a very impressive piece of artwork for your collection’s front cover by Peter Clayton (surely the same Peter?) A cliche such as – I couldn’t believe my eyes – feels allowable here. My husband says the fact there aren’t more coincidences is most surprising but I can’t resist the feeling of some hand pulling at the threads of my life and tying them together into a most pleasing tapestry. 

I wonder what your connection is with Peter? I think you say friend and colleague? I’d love to know. And please do pass on my message to Peter and give him my very best. I last spoke to him more than fifty years ago (there – I’ve aged myself) but I’d be glad to have contact again. He might like copies of his family’s letters perhaps? 

Wishing your collection much success (by which I mean that many people read and respond to the poems). I’m at last at the stage of putting a collection together myself and your writings on the process are really helpful. Thank you Roy! Best wishes Estelle Price 

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Looking forward to it, Roy.

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Thanks Matthew. They are from my 3rd (forthcoming) book, and I’m hoping it will be contain poems that are a bit different (in a good way) from the short lyric poems I mostly have written in the past.

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