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gray lightfoot

poet…home from the North

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Performance at St Ives September Festival

Date: September 16, 2023Author: gray lightfoot, wordsmith 0 Comments

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Cornish poetryCornwallelitism in poetryKernownostalgiapoetrySt Ivesworking-classworking-class writing
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Published by gray lightfoot, wordsmith

GRAY LIGHTFOOT is first and foremost a storyteller. He started writing at university as part of his English B. Ed. course and was consequently asked to join the Crucible Theatre Writers Group in Sheffield. He began writing poetry in earnest after becoming a bus driver (bills to pay and all that). His early work was written to entertain as much as to provoke thought and a collection of his poems and musings were well received in his first publication A View from a Cab (which has sold over 400 copies in the West Cornwall area alone) and more recently Poetry On Mi Bus. He has also written two comic fantasy novels The Malthouse Falcon and Bigg’s Leap. Reviews for A View from a Cab “Lightfoot is endeavouring to become a major voice within the Cornish poetic landscape (he) stands as an innovative new voice in Cornwall”. Alan M Kent, The Cornwall Banner (AnBaner Kernewek) “There is a sense of directness, honesty and truth in all that he does which is as refreshing as it is rare.” Frank Ruhrmund, The Cornishman He was also honoured to have his poem Through the Window of a Cornish Bus translated into Kernewek by the British Isles’ foremost Celtic language scholar Prof. Nicholas Williams of Trinity College, Dublin. No longer a bus driver, Gray’s poetry now encompasses are far broader range of subjects, although he still likes to use humour and modern cultural tropes to get across serious points, often ‘breaking the third-wall’ in what might be considered a post-modern style. Aware that working class voices are finding it hard to be heard in current literary circles, he was hoping to produce a collection of poetry called Not a Proper Poet. His poems are emotionally honest, self-aware and often confessional in his recollection of both childhood and modern-day fears and influences. Born in Burnley, Lancashire of Cornish descent, Gray is passionate about Cornwall, which he now regards as his homeland and many of his poems address Cornish issues such as poverty, second homes and over-tourism which can be seen on his website www.graylightfoot.co.uk. He was recently asked to perform some of his poems at a national forum on poverty. 2024 saw the publication of The Bus Drivers (not Pirates) of Penzance, a funny, irreverent and honest account of being a bus driver in the pressurised environment of tourist-filled Cornwall. Gray has a social media presence on Threads @whollygrayl Facebook and YouTube. Now living in Penzance with his wife, Wendy, and a toothless, one-eyed cat, Gray has been a postman, football fanzine editor and journalist…and can often be found performing his poetry and one-man shows in and around the pubs and theatres of West Cornwall. View all posts by gray lightfoot, wordsmith

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Videos and…

  • 1. ABOUT GRAY LIGHTFOOT
  • 1027 VIDEO – AN PYMTHEK BESONT A GERNOW (intro in English, performed in Kernewek)
  • 1029 VIDEO – SICK BUCKET
  • 1030 VIDEO – IN THE EVENT OF THE POLICE NEEDING TO IDENTIFY MY DECAPITATED BODY
  • 1031 VIDEO – SERPENTINE
  • 1032 VIDEO – THROUGH THE WINDOW OF A CORNISH BUS
  • 1033 VIDEO – DRE FENESTER KYTTRYN IN KERNOW
  • 1034 VIDEO – Gray reads a chapter from THE BUS DRIVERS OF PENZANCE – An Empty Bus is a Happy One
  • 1035 VIDEO – 3,000 SPOONS IN BURNLEY, LANCASHIRE
  • 1036 VIDEO – BURLINGTON STREET
  • 1037 VIDEO – I’M NOT CLASSIST, BUT…
  • 1038 VIDEO – POVERTY, POVERTY PORN
  • 1039 VIDEO – DAD DIGGING, DR WHO AND THE DAH-LIAS
  • 1040 VIDEO – 1969 ANNO DYLANI
  • 1041 VIDEO – JOKE!
  • 1042 VIDEO – THE HOVIS AD RECONSTRUCTED
  • 1043 VIDEO – A ROBIN AT THE RANGE
  • 1044 VIDEO – JOKE!
  • 1045 VIDEO – JANUARY AT ST ENODOC’S
  • 1046 – VIDEO – DECONSTRUCTING THE 1973 HOVIS AD
  • 1047 VIDEO – JANUARY AT ST ENODOC’S
  • 1048 VIDEO – THE CORNISH NATION
  • 1049 VIDEO – MURMURATION: MARAZION MARSH
  • 1050 VIDEO – I’M IN LOVE WITH THE B3306
  • 1051 VIDEO – MEETING DAVID BOWIE ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
  • 1052 VIDEO – POVERTY, POVERTY PORN
  • 1053 VIDEO – THE C.P.R. TRIPTYCH (CAMBORNE, POOL and REDRUTH)
  • 1054 VIDEO – SEAGULL/IMMIGRANTS
  • 1055 VIDEO – I’M NOT A PROPER POET, ME
  • 1056 VIDEO – TRY AND COME EARLY
  • 1057 VIDEO – SEA FEAR VISUAL (part one)
  • 1058 VIDEO – SEA FEAR VISUAL (part two)
  • 1059 VIDEO – SEA FEAR VISUAL (part three)
  • 1060 VIDEO – SEA FEAR (A Play for Voices) No visuals
  • 1061 VIDEO – A CHERISHED CONSTRAINT
  • 1062 VIDEO – THE UNGRATEFUL CORNISH
  • 1063 VIDEO – I’M NOT A PROPER POET, ME
  • 1064 VIDEO – SEAGULL/IMMIGRANTS
  • 1065 – VIDEO – THE CHRONIC ILLS OF N.A.R.N.I.A by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1066 VIDEO – DAD DIGGING, DR WHO AND THE DAH-LIAS
  • 1067 VIDEO – LOVE ON THE ATLANTIC COASTER
  • 1068 VIDEO – I’M IN LOVE WITH THE B3306
  • 1069 VIDEO – THE OMNIBUS COMPLEX
  • 1070 VIDEO – GRAY LIGHTFOOT’S POETRY ON MI BUS book launch
  • 1071 VIDEO – GRAY LIGHTFOOT RAMBLES ON… about his infamous relatives at an AUOB march in Camborne
  • 1072 VIDEO – THE C.P.R. TRIPTYCH (CAMBORNE, POOL AND REDRUTH) – part one
  • 1073 VIDEO – THE C.P.R. TRIPTYCH (Camborne, Pool and Redruth) – part two
  • 1074 VIDEO – THE C.P.R. TRIPTYCH (Camborne, Poll and Redruth) – part three
  • 1075 VIDEO – THE CHRONIC ILLS OF NARNIA (part one)
  • 1076 VIDEO – THE CHRONIC ILLS OF NARNIA (part two)
  • 1077 VIDEO – THE CHRONIC ILLS OF NARNIA (part three)
  • 1078 VIDEO – THE CHRONIC ILLS OF NARNIA (part four)
  • 1079 VIDEO – THE CHRONIC ILLS OF NARNIA (part five)
  • 1080 VIDEO – THE UNGRATEFUL CORNISH
  • 1081 VIDEO – THE CORNISH NATION
  • 1082 VIDEO – THOSE WITH BROADEST SHOULDERS
  • 1083 VIDEO – FORCED TO RUN
  • 1084 VIDEO – FORCED TO RUN
  • 1085 VIDEO – I’M NOT A PROPER POET, ME
  • 1086 VIDEO – I’M NOT CLASSIST, BUT…
  • 1087 VIDEO – THE HOVIS AD DECONSTRUCTED
  • 1088 VIDEO – THE UNGRATEFUL CORNISH
  • 1089 VIDEO – SPARKS – FIRING MY IMAGINATION SINCE…
  • 1090 VIDEO – DANCING WITH MR SAFKIN
  • 1091 VIDEO – THE DESERTED VILLAGE (Cornwall 2020)
  • 1092 VIDEO – THE CORNISH BUS DRIVER’S PRAYER
  • 1093 VIDEO – HOODIES FOR OLD FOLK
  • 1094 VIDEO – SALT
  • 1095 VIDEO – WHY AM I NOT LIKE HARRISON FORD?
  • 1096 VIDEO – PENZANCE – TWINNED WITH TORTUGA
  • 1097 VIDEO – ON BECOMING A PIRATE OF PENZANCE (v2.0)
  • 1098 VIDEO – EVIDENTLY PIRATE TOWN
  • 1099 VIDEO – THE MODERN CORNISH BUS DRIVER’S SONG
  • 1100 VIDEO – I’M NOT A CLASSIST, BUT…
  • 1101 VIDEO – (A VULNERABLE) SHOPPING IN LOCKDOWN TOWN
  • 1102 VIDEO – THE SICK BUCKET
  • 1103 VIDEO – A VIEW FROM A CAB (BUSRUNNER)
  • 1104 VIDEO – THE LIGHTS ARE ON…
  • 1105 VIDEO – ON DISCOVERING NEVADA COTTAGE (THE PEDANTS PURSUIT OF VAINGLORY – part 2)
  • 1106 VIDEO – ON NAMING CORNISH COTTAGES (THE PEDANTS PURSUIT OF VAINGLORY)
  • 1107 VIDEO – EVIDENTLY PIRATE TOWN
  • 1108 VIDEO – YOU’RE LATE! (THE DRIVERS’ RETURN)
  • 1109 VIDEO – MURMURATION (MARAZION MARSH)
  • 1110 VIDEO – THE BRAIN FREEZE OF CHOICE (JELBERTS ICE CREAM)
  • 1111 VIDEO – I’M IN LOVE WITH THE B3306
  • 1112 VIDEO – THE LAST BUS (And Death shall have no Dominoes)
  • 1113 VIDEO – No 6 (A Summer bus journey to Mousehole) – part four MOUSEHOLE
  • 1114 VIDEO – No 6 (A Summer bus ride to Mousehole) – part three NEWLYN
  • 1115 VIDEO – No 6 (A Summer bus journey to Mousehole) – part two ALVERTON
  • 1116 VIDEO – No 6 (A Summer bus journey to Mousehole) – part one PENZANCE
  • 1117 VIDEO – SEAGULL/IMMIGRANTS
  • 1118 VIDEO – THE MERRY MAIDENS
  • 1119 VIDEO – THE DESERTED VILLAGE (CORNWALL 2020)
  • 1120 VIDEO – CHILL OUT MAN
  • 1121 VIDEO – THE CHRONIC ILLS OF NARNIA
  • 1122 VIDEO – BUS LAY-BY BLUES
  • 1123 VIDEO – PORTHCURNO STOP COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN STOP
  • 1124 VIDEO – JAM FIRST (THE CREAM STAYS ON TOP)
  • 1125 VIDEO – THE CORNISH BUS DRIVER’S PRAYER
  • 1126 VIDEO – THE TOWN CENTRE LIZARD OF HELSTON
  • 1127 VIDEO – ODE TO A CORNISH MILESTONE
  • 1128 VIDEO – PENSANS A’GAS DYNNERGH
  • 1129 VIDEO – LOVE ON THE ATLANTIC COASTER
  • 1130 VIDEO – COUNTING CROWS IN A TIME OF PLAGUE (Corvid 19).
  • 1131 VIDEO – THE CORNISH BUS DRIVER’S PRAYER
  • 1132 VIDEO – THE ENDURING KISS by Gray Lightfoot at The Acorn, Penzance 3/7/19
  • 1133 VIDEO – HOODIES FOR OLD FOLK by Gray Lightfoot at The Acorn, Penzance 3/7/19
  • 1134 VIDEO – JOKE! by Gray Lightfoot at his show JOKE! in Penzance 3/7/19
  • 1135 VIDEO F.F.S. – IT’S JUST A WORD by Gray Lightfoot at his show Joke! 3/7/19
  • 1136 VIDEO – PENZANCE – THE REASONS IN RHYME by Gray Lightfoot (commissioned by the Penzance Lit Fest 2019)
  • 1137 VIDEO – I’M NOT A PROPER POET, ME by Gray Lightfoot at The Acorn, Penzance on 31/5/19
  • 1138 VIDEO – THE LAST BUS (AND DEATH SHALL HAVE NO DOMINOES) by Gray Lightfoot at The Acorn Theatre, Penzance on 31/5/19
  • 1139 VIDEO – SALT (THE STORY OF LOT’S WIFE) by Gray Lightfoot at The Acorn, Penzance 31/5/19
  • 1140 VIDEO – RAIN CARNATIONS by Gray Lightfoot (supporting Luke Wright) at The Acorn, Penzance 31/5/19
  • 1141 VIDEO – ON BECOMING A PENZANCE PIRATE by Gray Lightfoot (intro by Luke Wright) The Acorn 31/5/19
  • 1142 VIDEO – THE CORNISH BUS DRIVERS’ PRAYER by Gray Lightfoot at Mousehole 24/4/18
  • 1143 VIDEO – SALT (THE TALE OF LOT’S WIFE) by Gray Lightfoot at the Hypatia Trust, Penzance 11/5/19
  • 1144 VIDEO – I’M IN LOVE WITH THE B3306 by Gray Lightfoot at The Hypatia Trust, Penzance 11/5/19
  • 1145 VIDEO – A CHERISHED CONSTRAINT by Gray Lightfoot at the Hypatia Trust 11/5/19
  • 1146 VIDEO – PENZANCE – TWINNED WITH TORTUGA by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1147 VIDEO – A CYBERMAN SANG IN NORWAY SQUARE (dedicated to Bob Devereux) by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1148 VIDEO – ON BECOMING A PENZANCE PIRATE 2 by Gray Lightfoot at St Ives Arts Club 11/10/18
  • 1149 VIDEO – MEETING DAVID BOWIE ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS by Gray Lightfoot at The Society of Artists Gallery, Norway Square, St Ives (22/9/18)
  • 1150 VIDEO – ON BECOMING A PENZANCE PIRATE (version 2) by Gray Lightfoot at The Society of Artists Gallery, Norway Square, St Ives (22/9/18)
  • 1151 VIDEO – THE CORNISH NATION by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1152 VIDEO – MURMURATION : MARAZION MARSH by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1152 VIDEO – ON NAMING CORNISH COTTAGES by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1153 VIDEO – EVIDENTLY PIRATE TOWN by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1154 VIDEO – THE BRAIN FREEZE OF CHOICE (Jelberts Ice Cream) by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1155 VIDEO – THE TOWN CENTRE LIZARD OF HELSTON by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1156 VIDEO – A VIEW FROM A CAB (BUSRUNNER) by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1157 VIDEO – ODE TO A CORNISH MILESTONE by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1158 VIDEO – I’M NOT A PROPER POET, ME by Gray Lightfoot at St Ives Arts Club (14/5/18)
  • 1159 VIDEO – EVIDENTLY PIRATE TOWN and MURMURATION by Gray Lightfoot at St Ives Arts Club (14/5/18)
  • 1160 VIDEO – SPARKS – FIRING MY IMAGINATION by Gray Lightfoot at St Ives Arts Club (14/5/18)
  • 1161 VIDEO – 1969 ANNO DYLANI by Gray Lightfoot at St Ives Arts Club (14/5/18)
  • 1162 VIDEO – THE CORNISH NATION and ON NAMING CORNISH COTTAGES by Gray Lightfoot at St Ives Arts Club (14/5/18)
  • 1163 VIDEO – THE LAST BUS by Gray Lightfoot at St Ives Arts Club (14/5/18)
  • 1164 VIDEO – I’M IN LOVE WITH THE B3306 and THE BRAIN FREEZE OF CHOICE by Gray Lightfoot at St Ives Arts Club 3 (14/5/18)
  • 1165 VIDEO – A VIEW FROM A CAB and ODE TO A CORNISH MILESTONE by Gray Lightfoot at St Ives Arts Club (14/5/18)
  • 1166 VIDEO – THE TOWN CENTRE LIZARD OF HELSTON by Gray Lightfoot at St Ives Arts Club (14/5/18)
  • 1167 VIDEO – THE TOWN CENTRE LIZARD OF HELSTON by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1168 VIDEO – PAPER TALK by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1169 VIDEO – THE CORNISH BUS DRIVER’S PRAYER by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1170 VIDEO – BUS DRIVERS AND STONE MASON’S TALES by Gray Lightfoot at Mousehole
  • 1171 VIDEO – BUS DRIVERS’ HAKAS, PRAYERS AND THAT DAMNED LIZARD by Gray Lightfoot
  • 1172 VIDEO – KISSING THE SHUTTLE by Gray Lightfoot at Stars in a Dark Sky at The Admiral Benbow, Penzance
  • 1173 VIDEO – CHRISTMAS 1914 by Mike Harding read by Gray Lightfoot at Stars in a Dark Night, Admiral Benbow, Penzance 12/11/17
  • 1174 VIDEO – RAIN CARNATIONS by Gray Lightfoot filmed at The National Dahlia Collection, Penzance
  • 1175 VIDEO – THE BRAIN FREEZE OF CHOICE by Gray Lightfoot at Pirates on the Prom 2017
  • 1176 VIDEO – PAPER TALK by Gray Lightfoot at Penzance People Do Peace and Love, The Acorn 1/12/16
  • 1177 VIDEO – HARRY HILLMORE’S HAT by Gray Lightfoot at The Farmers Arms, Penzance 2016
  • 1178 VIDEO – THE SICK BUCKET by Gray Lightfoot at the St Ives Arts Club (17/9/15)
  • 1179 VIDEO – ME, MAX AND THE BEDROOM TAX by Gray Lightfoot at Port Eliot Festival
  • 1180 VIDEO – THE LAST BUS (AND DEATH SHALL HAVE NO DOMINOES) by Gray Lightfoot at The Admiral Benbow, Penzance 2016
  • 1181 VIDEO – RAIN CARNATIONS by Gray Lightfoot at The Admiral Benbow, Penzance, 2016
  • 1182 VIDEO – MURMURATION and THE BRAIN FREEZE OF CHOICE by Gray Lightfoot at the Penzance LitFest 2016
  • 1183 VIDEO – TWO PIRATE POEMS by Gray Lightfoot at the Penzance LitFest 2016
  • 1184 VIDEO – TWO BUS DRIVING POEMS by Gray Lightfoot at the Penzance LitFest 2016
  • 1185 VIDEO – THE BRAIN FREEZE OF CHOICE (Jelbert’s Ice Cream) by Gray Lightfoot at Norway Square, St Ives 2016
  • 1186 VIDEO – PENZANCE – EVIDENTLY PIRATE TOWN by Gray Lightfoot at The Ritz, Penzance 2016
  • 1187 VIDEO – A VIEW FROM A CAB (BUSRUNNER) by Gray Lightfoot at Newlyn Arts Festival 2015
  • 1188 VIDEO – ON THE NAMING OF CORNISH COTTAGES by Gray Lightfoot (excerpt – having a bit of fun with the audience) at Newlyn Art Gallery 2015
  • 1189 VIDEO – THE WEST CORNISH BUS DRIVER’S PRAYER by Gray Lightfoot (in soft focus) at The Newlyn Art Gallery 2015
  • 1190 VIDEO – THE MERRY MAIDENS by Gray Lightfoot at the Penzance Peace Festival 2015
  • 1191 VIDEO – SEAGULL IMMIGRANTS by Gray Lightfoot at The St Ives Arts Club, 2015
  • 1192 VIDEO – THE TOWN CENTRE LIZARD OF HELSTON by Gray Lightfoot at the Penzance LitFest 2015
  • 1193 VIDEO – ODE TO PORTHCURNO and MURMURATION: MARAZION MARSH by Gray Lightfoot at the Penzance LitFest 2015
  • 1194 VIDEO – THE LIGHTS ARE ON…by Gray Lightfoot at the Penzance LitFest 2015
  • 1195 VIDEO – A VIEW FROM A CAB (BUSRUNNER) by Gray Lightfoot at The Admiral Benbow, Penzance 2015
  • 1196 VIDEO – SPARKS – FIRING MY IMAGINATION SINCE… by Gray Lightfoot at The Bath Inn, Penzance 2015
  • 1197 VIDEO – THE SICK BUCKET by Gray Lightfoot at Newlyn Art Gallery 2014
  • 1198 VIDEO – I’M IN LOVE WITH THE B3306 by Gray Lightfoot at the Newlyn Art Gallery 2014
  • 1199 VIDEO – Gray performs at a literary lunch at The Admiral Benbow, Penzance 2014.
  • 1200 POETIC BUS DRIVER WHO CAN’T WAIT FOR PIRATE DAY
  • 1201 FOR DEVORAN EVER, LANDS END: West Cornwall bus driver pens poem based on Lord’s Prayer
  • 1202 GRAY LIGHTFOOT wins Penzance LitFest ‘Be A Write Pirate’ poetry prize

Recent Posts

  • Article about Gray Lightfoot, bus driver/poet by Canadian poet and travel writer, Bill Arnott
  • TREKEIVESTEPS, (RIVER FOWEY, CORNWALL)
  • (PENDLE HILL) THE NEARLY MOUNTAIN
  • SERPENTINE
  • IT’S BRONN WENNILI, STUPID!

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