Otley’s award-winning town poet, Matthew Hedley Stoppard has written a new book of poetry celebrating age-old folk traditions in the UK – many of which cannot be carried out due to the coronavirus crisis. 

Matthew began Morris dancing with a local group five years ago and has since gone on to take part in other quaint British customs. The resulting book, The Garland King (Valley Press UK, £9.99), is collection of verse that combines his experiences of folk activity with his own anxieties around parenthood and the wider world.

Traditions in the book include Otley’s May Day celebrations, mumming, well dressing, witchcraft, Derbyshire’s Garland King and Scotland’s Burryman. The book attempts to create an uncanny space where these traditional customs and modern anxieties mix. In it we find the Garland King cannot shake the inherent sexism of our society; a mummer mismanages his depression after his child is diagnosed with cancer; and Morris Dancers melt in the midst of a climate emergency.

The poems celebrate the rituals of the working and labouring classes, who have had their culture eclipsed by organised religion and politics. The poet explores them by donning bells and decorated bonnets himself, in order to connect with Britain’s heritage and with other countries that have similar customs.

Matthew says: “If you’ve ever wondered why Morris Dancers look so happy, it’s because you’re witnessing a person who is shedding every distraction in their life and only focusing on movements of music and movements of their body that have been carried through centuries.

“This is what I felt the first time I danced five years ago. Since then I have explored other customs around the country and met people who feel the same way. Folk traditions have featured in poetry before, but I don’t feel previous poets have immersed themselves in them, like a method actor.

“When you take part in a folk tradition you are directly connected with the people who first started them hundreds of years ago. I feel they bear some cultural significance and share similarities with customs in other countries, but have now been overshadowed by elitist notions of Brexit and Empire.”

Matthew’s first collection, A Family Behind Glass, was a Guardian Readers’ Book of the Year in 2013, and he has written a book of poetry exploring Leeds’ cinematic history with fellow poet James Nash.

• The Garland King is available from Valley Press at valleypressuk.com, £9.99
• Leeds Libraries are hosting a Zoom Launch with Anne Caldwell. On Thursday November 26, 7pm-8.30pm, FREE tickets are available at ticketsource.co.uk/leedslibraryevents
•  A live book launch and folk tevue featuring Stephanie Hladowski, Campbell and Spafford and Wharfedale Wayzgoose, in on Friday December 18, 7pm-8.30pm. Tickets cost £12 from otleycourthouse.org.uk