Former student stages poetic return

A former Teesside University student who graduated in the 1970s is returning to Middlesbrough to recount her experiences of writing poetry with a member of one of the region’s most famous families.

Ilse Cornwall-Ross will be giving a public talk on the poems of Ruth Pennyman, which will be followed by a poetry writing workshop.

Ruth Pennyman was the last of the Pennyman family to live at Ormesby Hall and was at the centre of cultural life on Teesside for long periods of her life (1893-1983).

She was a founder member of Middlesbrough Little Theatre and became famous for her large scale community theatre productions of Shakespearean plays, involving hundreds of local actors. Ruth also promoted painting, music and poetry in the Ormesby Arts Club.

Ilse was fortunate enough to live with Ruth at Ormesby Hall when she studied BA (Hons) Humanities at what was then Teesside Polytechnic, graduating in 1979.

'Ruth had a tremendous impact on cultural life on Teesside, but lesser known is the fact that she wrote poetry from an early age,' said Ilse.

'When I was living at Ormesby Hall and studying, I started working with Ruth on her poems and encouraged her to write more.'

Last year Ilse had a book of Ruth’s poems published titled A Magic Presence. She will be giving a public talk at Ormesby Hall about Ruth Pennyman’s poems on Friday 13 July at 11.00am. Ilse will be talking about working with Ruth on her poems and life at Ormesby Hall. This will be followed by a poetry workshop in the afternoon, which will run until 2.30pm.

Reflecting on her time studying at Teesside, Ilse, who now lives in Winchester, said: 'I think the most useful thing that studying offers is that it enhances your awareness of interesting areas in life.

'Studying at Teesside taught me that the discipline you impose on yourself is actually useful for life in general, not only for the acquisition of knowledge in your subject.'

To book a place for Ilse’s talk and poetry workshop, ring 01642 738321 or email alumni.office@tees.ac.uk.

Those attending the poetry workshop are asked to bring their own writing materials. The fee for the day is £5.

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