Known previously as the Charles Causley Festival of Arts and Literature, the event this year hails to town with a new name and a focus on Charles's home and the inspiration behind his writing.

Charles Causley, born in 1917, was a teacher and poet from Launceston, whose name is listed amongst the greats of 20th century English poetry. Born to Charles and Laura Causley, and starting his early life in one of the quaint riverside cottages at St Thomas, Charles would lose his dad at the age of seven, his death caused by a lung condition brought on by the time spent in the First World War.

As a youngster, Charles wrote plays for local drama companies, and he published his first play, 'Runaway', aged just 19, which was broadcast on the BBC West Country radio.

After serving in the Navy during the Second World War, Charles returned home and trained as a teacher at Peterborough, all the while writing of his lived experiences. He taught in Launceston, with many youngsters of the time being able to recall their lessons in his classroom today.

Charles published his first collection of poems, 'Farewell, Aggie Weston' in 1951, followed by 'Survivor's Leave' in 1953. He would continue to publish work well into the later part of the 20th century, with many collections being written for children. His poems often focused on Cornwall, the countryside and local folklore, and, of course, his beloved home town of Launceston. Charles died in 2003, and his legacy continues more than 20 years on, thanks to the work of the Causley Trust.

The Charles Causley Trust was set up shortly after Charles died with an aim to 'raise the profile and appreciation' of Charles and his work, reaching writers, artists and poetry lovers across Launceston, the South West and further afield. Having evolved somewhat over the years, the Trust has helped to put Launceston on the literary map, acquiring Charles's former home Cyprus Well in 2007 and turning it into an educational museum to promote the arts, and offer writing residencies for new and established writers.

The Trust has also organised an annual literary festival for many years, celebrating the arts and showcasing the work of Charles Causley.

In 2025, the festival will take place in the last weekend of May, with 20 poets and creative artists celebrating Charles Causley and Launceston. Novelist Patrick Gale, Forward Prize winner Daljit Nagra, Ondaatje Prize winner Pascale Petit and BBC Folk winner Jackie Oates are just some of the names joining headliners Frank Skinner and Ella Frears at this year's event.

A range of activities will be held in Launceston throughout the weekend for the community to enjoy, from talks, readings and open mic events, to workshops and mentoring, street acts, poetry walks and picnics. A visual art exhibition and poetry film installation will only add to the creative atmosphere, and perhaps you will find inspiration for your own writing in Launceston's ivy-clad castle walls, steep winding streets, and ancient hills.

There will be an opportunity to purchase a festival pass for the entire weekend, otherwise do keep an eye on the Trust's socials and website for further updates and event announcements!

For more information about the festival, Trust and Charles Causley, visit https://causleytrust.org/the-launceston-poetry-festival/