The Amble Poet – an afternoon with Ian Williams

Join us for an afternoon with Ian Williams The Amble Poet starting at 2pm.

Ian Williams was born in Lancashire but has lived in Northumberland since 1994, having been brought to the county by his substantive job. He originally trained as a Mental Health Nurse (RMN) specialising in child and adolescent mental health. He worked for the NHS for 32 years in a variety of roles including community nurse, senior manager, and commissioner. Since 2012 he has taken a slight change of direction and now works around the field of adult social care.

He has been partaking in the rather solitary occupation of poetry writing for longer than he cares to remember; enthused in his youth by the Mersey beat poets of the 60’s and 70’s.  Ian writes in a variety of styles inspired by the people and places around him and the feelings and emotions that they generate. He draws upon his childhood, growing up in the 60’s and 70’s and his background in mental health, which often comes through in his work.

He has been performing for around 20 years; at local festivals, theatres, and other establishments. He also performs frequently for local groups and at village halls, keen to bring the arts out to rural communities. He is the resident ‘pop-up’ poet for the Amble Puffin Festival. He has also in the past staged several combined poetry and photographic exhibitions across the North East and Scotland.

Ian combines his love of poetry with his often rye and humorous views on everyday life. He is keen to demonstrate that poetry does not have to be highbrow and esoteric, but is open to all and has real relevance to everyday life and the world we live in. He hopes to make people laugh and think in equal measure.

“The ladies laughed so much! He was humorous and witty.”

Newbrough WI.

“Ian Williams just captures life.”

Eastgate Theatre.

“Poetry which you can identify with.”

Bailiffgate Museum.