[This year’s Bath Bard, Michelle Hawkins-Collins]
Bath has got itself a new Bard!
What’s that you say? Well in Celtic cultures a bard was a professional poet, singer and story teller and for 25 years our city has been celebrating its great love of the spoken word.
Taking on this year’s cloak of honour is Michelle Hawkins-Collins!
The vibrant bardic competition is held each year, inviting participants to submit a manifesto alongside a performance piece.
This year’s theme was “Home.” Michelle performed her piece, inspired by the life of her grandmother, who lost her home at the tender age of 12 during World War II and grew up in a concentration camp in East Germany.
Michelle expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am deeply honored to be named this year’s Bard of Bath. My poem not only embodies my grandmother’s remarkable resilience and the wisdom born from her adversities but also highlights the vital necessity of nurturing a sense of home within ourselves.
My own life journey, particularly my evolving Druid Path, has illuminated the importance of local community, nature and creating spaces for creative expression. These elements are essential for cultivating a sense of inner peace and rootedness, especially in these times of profound change and uncertainty.”
Throughout its history, Bath has nurtured great keepers of the spoken word, from the poet Alexander Pope to the playwright Henry Fielding and novelist Jane Austin.
This vibrant environment, combined with the unique landscape, magical thermal waters and stunning architecture fosters a fertile ground for creativity to flourish, inspiring artists and storytellers to share their voices and experiences.
As the Bard of Bath, Michelle is committed to elevating the bardic arts throughout the city and warmly invites anyone interested in storytelling, music, and poetry to join this movement.
She said: “If you run a group or organization that supports these arts, or if you wish to start one, please reach out. I would love to support you and help in fostering collaboration through initiatives like a Bardic Festival, creative workshops, and street performances.
Additionally, I will be publishing a series of children’s books set in Bath that celebrate wisdom and creativity, highlighting the city’s magical cultural heritage. If you’re a publisher, creative writer, or have children aged 7-10, let’s connect!”
The judging panel, composed of previous Bard of Bath winners, was impressed by the high caliber of performances.
Connor Walker, last year’s winner, remarked, “This year’s competition was exceptionally tight, and we extend a special commendation to our runner-up, James Mitchell.
The ideas presented around the theme of ‘Home’ were both excellent and inspiring, resonating with the Mayor of Bath’s theme for her year in charge. Michelle’s performance masterfully wove storytelling and emotion, taking the audience on a complete journey.
We wish her great success as the 25th Bard of Bath.”
