By Mark Tavender | Photography by Megan Ramsey Photography
Ever since he was a teenager, Dean Jolly has been captivated by his home town and its coastline. He recalls being inspired by a school trip to St. Mary’s Lighthouse and the surrounding area and realising that a lot of people do not appreciate what is effectively right in front of them.
He says he noticed the reactions of day trippers and tourists visiting. ‘When people come into the area, they’re so enamoured by the place and looking around everywhere and going ‘oh wow’ It’s not just the coastline, it’s the buildings too.’ He began writing about what he saw, putting into words his observations, thoughts and feelings. He had a red notebook which he carried around with him everywhere, jotting down what he saw and then putting it all together as poems. He says he found it therapeutic and writing helped him, as he puts it, to ‘unjumble my thoughts.’ He is aware that sometimes there is a stigma attached to writing poetry especially if you’re male and working class. For this reason writing poetry was a private ambition for a while. But this didn’t stop him writing in his notebook whenever the urge took him.
He soon filled his red notebook with 60 odd poems but one day he lost it, which was very painful for him. He was so annoyed with himself that he lost enthusiasm for writing for a while – but the urge to write – and eventually self publish – never went away. Dean managed to salvage some of his poems from the depth of his memory which led to his first poetry pamphlet, ‘The Significance of Small Happenings.’ These days he still carries a notepad and pen but has his phone as back up on which he can put down random thoughts or phrases that come to him that he can then develop into a poem. He sees writing as good for his mental health and provides a perfect form of escapism, having suffered from depression and anxiety in the past. To date he has published five poetry pamphlets (all available via Amazon) which perfectly capture what living in and around North Shields and the North East is like. Take the poem Friends of the Quay for example, which begins…
If you’ve ever been down to the Fish Quay for a night out, you’ll instantly relate to the scene he paints with his words. Writing poetry was always a passionate hobby for Dean and he has had various jobs over the years. He mentions working as a funeral director for 5 years which, despite the serious nature of the role, often provided him with ideas and inspiration and made him think more deeply about his writing. After a conversation with another local creative, Dean decided to take a leap of faith and quit his job to concentrate on writing full-time. He self published another pamphlet, ‘As Tyne Goes By,’ and organised a book launch at The Exchange which was unexpectedly interrupted by a group of Morris Dancers! He laughs as he recalls his friend coming up to him at the end of the night and saying, ‘Dean, that was great, how did you book them?!’ The night was a great success and Dean gave all proceeds to charity. It was a well attended event and also inspired others to start writing poetry – one such person is Angela Craddock who has now published her own book of poetry which she has dedicated to him.
Dean has also written a novella in homage to his literary hero, Charles Bukowski. It’s called ‘Nirvana: A Tale Of Poets And The Beautifully Mad,’ and is a fascinating tale of good versus evil, combining poetry and prose and referencing famous literary figures and his own poems.
But not only does he write poetry, he also performs it and organises spoken word events. Dean recalls his first ever performance at an open mic night at Under The Arches in Tynemouth. He went along to listen to other poets perform but found himself having a go too, reading his poem ‘An Old Sailor’s Reminisce’ to an appreciative audience.
Since then Dean has been encouraging others to write and perform their own poetry by organising spoken word events in the area. He was key in setting up ‘Bards of Boho’ and other similar gatherings at the Barista Boho cafe (unfortunately, now closed). He has also hosted charity events in the creative sphere such as Rhythm, Rhyme and Reason, a talent showcase which raised funds for Mental Health and Physical Support Services (MAPSS).
Dean is acutely aware of how hard it is to make a proper living as an artist or poet but is convinced there are opportunities out there. He is keen to get an employed role in the creative sphere organising events which promotes local creatives, especially people writing and performing poetry.
One of many ideas he has to get people interested in poetry he calls ‘Poetry in Motion’ – he envisages a small group of local poetry enthusiasts putting on a regular event where they visit a number of bars during the course of an evening to perform spoken word.
Whether it’s an idea like that or some other proposal there is no doubt that spoken word and poetry gigs can be a great way to build a strong community. Community poetry events, whether they’re open mic nights, workshops, or poetry slams, provide a platform for individuals to express their unique perspectives while fostering a collective identity. These gatherings can be a source of support, inspiration, and empowerment, as poets and audiences alike find common ground in the rhythm and rhyme of spoken word. They provide a platform for self-expression, encourage creativity and artistic appreciation and above all create a sense of belonging and Dean Jolly is a man determined to make that happen.
Links to Dean’s poetry and social media can be found here
