General Features

A literary lateral thinker, Cathy Grindrod's the poet to ask how the Queen would have spent an imaginary day off:

"kicked up gravel borders, hollered to the guards,

All change you big-heads!; issued marching orders"

or how to write a tribute to the making of a Belper nail:

"gate nail, scupper nail, slate nail, clout,

frost cog, tyre slub, saddle nail, clout"

As the first ever Derbyshire Poet Laureate she populated her poems with local references, and launched her "Laureate Lines" as a celebration of her year in the post Derbybshire County Council created in 2005.

Cathy's already published three collections, and will tell you that a modern poet's day can include anything from performances of her poems to writing new ones to commission, to leading workshops and writer's groups and working with orchestras and stately homes.

She was also a leading light in helping to create the Derbyshire Poem which was written by people from Derbyshire (see link on the right and below)

Watch out for her at the new Derby Quad. Meanwhile here are some samples for you to listen to!