The Trust hosted Holly Gilson as an Artist in Residence in June, she now reflects on her time spent volunteering in Launceston with the Trust.
I began my journey to Launceston leafing through the pages of Charles’s poetry. His words of appreciation for the nature that flourished around him struck me as I travelled through the sweeping hills of the Tamar Valley. Having spent so much time engrossed in Charles’s diaries, this journey felt unique in bringing me to the home of a poet I had grown to know so well. Having poured over his thoughts and feelings as a young man brimming with nerves about World War Two, I couldn’t help but marvel as I travelled to the very place he found peace. A peace that allowed him to write the poetry we still cherish to this day.
Arriving at the door to Cyprus Well, you are met with hills beyond your gaze as Ridgegrove Hill descends into the distance. Entering you are met with Charles’s sitting room, his mother’s armchair comfortably watches over the room as the clock continues to tick with the passing seconds. Light pours in as you step towards the kitchen; but the most special of Cyprus Well’s rooms awaits. Charles’s study invites sunshine and the sounds of birds. Tucked away from the front of the house, it has been remembered that Charles loved this room for he was able to write in solitude away from the prying eyes of his nosy students on their walks around the town.
Moments writing and painting at his desk were by far the most special for me staying in Cyprus Well. Working with the Trust’s director, Nicola Nuttall, I was invited to a week-long residency here, volunteering with the Trust. As a history student, a large part of my time in Cyprus Well was spent preparing for my talk at Merchant House. I had spent the previous weeks delving into the Charles Causley archive at the University of Exeter’s Special Collections. Here documents such as Charles’s diaries are housed. Being able to leaf through these tiny pocket-sized notebooks was incredible, even if I did have to strain to read his tiny handwriting. What I centred my research around was his experiences during war, and what an emotional historical perspective can teach us about this. I drew on examples of his seasickness in the navy, and experiences of air raids to shed a light on the poet’s real-life emotions alongside an emotional exploration of his wartime poetry. Being able to stay in Charles’s home connected me to the man I had studied. Unlike my usual day-to-day studies, this was the perfect example of history come to life, a tangible presence and atmosphere I could anchor my writing to. Bringing this altogether, I delivered my speech in Merchant House to our wonderful community of volunteers.
Alongside the talk and my time spent volunteering in the Trust’s Merchant House bookshop, I also held a children’s art workshop at Launceston Library. During this workshop the children were encouraged to read some of Charles’s poetry and draw what they could imagine from it. Cultural outreach for the local community is an essential part of the Trust’s projects in Launceston. This is because Charles’s life spent as a teacher reinforced the importance of introducing children to poetry and the arts more widely.
A residency at Cyprus Well was transformative for me in so many ways. It helped grow my confidence for one. Working with the Trust’s fabulous group of volunteers I immediately felt at ease in this community so dedicated to spreading the word about Charles. And for this amazing experience, I have only the Trust to thank for their generosity and unwavering belief in young people. A belief in their ideas and ability to engage others in the arts is what they are passionate about. It is because of this belief that I can now say I am the Trust’s Marketing Support Officer and am thoroughly enjoying this new position alongside my studies.
