Did you know Buckingham has its own bard? Dean Jones was appointed to the role in October 2019 and he’s been busy while we’ve all been stuck at home during lockdown, writing nearly 200 poems and songs.
After winning a bardic trial, Dean performed at Buckingham’s Christmas lights switch on in 2019 – but then COVID struck.
Undeterred, Dean set about writing.
He said: “It had a significant impact on me and I became a bit addicted to writing. I was processing what was going on as it was going on. My poems would comment on some of the government decisions that were made or how I was feeling that morning having been locked in for a month. I recorded and wrote a poem about that first week of lockdown which kind of resonated with everyone.”
With restrictions slowly starting to lift, Dean hopes to perform in public soon at events in Buckingham and elsewhere.
He said: “It’s an opportunity to attract some other people to come into the town centre, play some music and turn it an event that is safe for the community. My role comes to an end in October. It will be good to have somebody different, fresh and original to take my place. I’m more looking forward to the next bard than doing the role myself.”
As restrictions continue to be relaxed, Dean hopes to perform in public as much as possible so he can share the fruits of his lockdown labours.
He said: “I’ll be hunting out festivals – I put so much time into writing them and I feel they need to be aired.”
Dean, partnership and outreach manager for the University of Buckingham, also takes an active role in a number of local charities. He’ll take part in CEO Sleepout and helped the community raise nearly £20,000 for residents affected by flooding in Buckingham at Christmas.
Dean said he feels community spirit has been strengthened throughout lockdown and he hopes this is something that is here to stay long into the future.
He said: “I think we’re much more civic and community minded – people feel compelled to talk to one another. There’s nothing wrong with us feeling a bit more together.”
To read Dean’s work, go to www.lineofpoetry.com and search for Dean Jones
You can hear The Lockdowns End by here
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