Exhibition Female Poets Inspirational Women and Fascinating Facts of the First World War, Blackpool Library, August 2014

The picture shows the setting up of the exhibition of Female Poets, Inspirational Women and Fascinating Facts that is to be held in Blackpool Central Library from 4th August 2013.   Clancy and her team are doing a fantastic job setting up the panels.  Among the poets featured are WILFRED OWEN, the WW1 soldier poet, who visited Blackpool while in Fleetwood to purchase a Trench Coat before going to the Front, and Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska, a WW1 Polish woman poet who lived in Blackpool during WW2.

On Monday, 4th August 2014 under the title "Pack up Your Troubles" Blackpool Central Library are holding a launch event from 1 pm, featuring a talk, refreshments and poetry readings.  £1 per person - payable on arrival.

The lyrics to the famous World War 1 marching song "Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile", were written by Welsh songwriter George Henry Powell (1880 - 1951). George used the pen-name George Asaf for this song and his words were set to music written by his brother, Felix Powell (1878 - 1942).  Felix and George Powell were from St. Asaph, Denbighshire in North Wales.  

The brothers entered their song into a competition held during the First World War to find the best 'morale-building' song for WW1. Their song won first prize with the commendation "perhaps the most optimistic song ever written.   Felix was a Staff Sergeant during WW1 and George was a conscientious objector.

Blackpool Central Library,

Queen St, Blackpool,