Bard of Bath
The Bard of Bath is a prestigious title awarded to the winner of an annual competition designed to discover
Bath's finest poet, singer, or storyteller. This vibrant competition takes place each year, featuring a different theme that invites participants to submit a manifesto alongside a performance piece.
The title revives an Iron Age Celtic Druid tradition, where
Druids
A druid was a member of the high-ranking priestly class in ancient Celtic cultures. The druids were religious leaders as well as legal authorities, adjudicators, lorekeepers, medical professionals and political advisors. Druids left no wr ...
served as law-makers, judges, and ceremonial leaders;
Ovates acted as mediums, healers, and prophets;
Bards were poets, musicians and history-keepers. All of them held high status and a place in mystical/religious circles.
Each Chaired Bard becomes a member of the
Gorsedd
Gorsedd Cymru (), or simply the Gorsedd (), is a society of Welsh-language poets, writers, musicians and others who have contributed to the Welsh language and to public life in Wales. Its aim is to honour such individuals and help develop and p ...
and retains their title (specified by year). The current Bard of Bath, as of November 2024, is Michelle Hawkins-Collins.
In 2025, the theme was “Home,” and Michelle won the competition with her poignant performance titled "Home is Not a Place but a Presence." Her piece drew inspiration from the life of her grandmother, who lost her home at the age of 12 during World War II and grew up in a concentration camp in East Germany. As the current Bard of Bath, Michelle is dedicated to promoting the bardic arts throughout the city and fostering a sense of community through creative expression.
Michelle is also the founder of '
The Wisdom Space CIC'', which helps individuals to reconnect more deeply with themselves, their local communities, and the natural world through regular workshops, events, and retreats.
Winners
* Tim Sebastian, 1996–97
* Richard Carder, 1997-8
* Kevan Manwaring, 1998-9
* Olivia Hicks, 1999–2000
* Julian Landau, 2000-1
* Brendan Georgeson, 2001-2
* Mark Lindsey Earley, 2002-3
* Helen Moore, 2003-4
* Jordan Ashley Hill 2004-5
* Mo the People's Nun, 2005-6
* Ash Mandrake, 2006–2007
*
Thommie Gillow, 2007–2008
* Master Duncan, 2008–2009
* Jack Dean, 2009–2010
* Jennifer Walter 2010-2012 (re-elected)
* 2012-2013 No Chai
awarded* Mark Westmore 2013-2014
* Sheila Broun 2014-2015
* Conor Whelan, 2019–20
* Tick Rowley, 2020-2022 (re-elected)
* Annabelle Cormack, 2022-2023
* Connor Walker, 2023-2024
Michelle Hawkins-Collins 2024-2025
References
External links
*
British poetry awards
History of Bath, Somerset
Neo-druidism
Culture in Somerset
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