Spike Hawkins (1943-2017) was a British poet, best known for his "Three Pig Poems", included in his one book, the Fulcrum Press collection The Lost Fire-Brigade (1968). He was part of the poetry scene in Liverpool during the 1960s and much of his output upholds the values of that group; short, modernistic, humorous pieces of free verse. He was published in Encounter, International Times, The Guardian and in the 1972 anthology The Old Pals' Act, edited by Pete Brown.
He was a friend of Johnny Byrne; together, they formed the surreal act "Poisoned Bellows". He was a friend of Syd Barrett, a founder of Pink Floyd. Hawkins continued to be active, for example performing in the 2005 Poetry Olympics at the Royal Albert Hall, having originally performed there in the International Poetry Incarnation in 1965.
Also a mimic, he could imitate Harold Wilson very well.
See also
References
- "Hawkins, Spike", Porkopolis.
- International Times Archive 1966-2005.
- "The Old Pals' Act", http://www.books-by-isbn.com/
- Gavin Gaughan, Johnny Byrne obituary, The Guardian, 25 April 2008. Accessed 5 August 2008.
- Anthony Hayward, "Johnny Byrne: Writer of feelgood TV dramas", The Independent, 12 May 2008.
- Rob Chapman on Syd Barrett: A Very Irregular Head (starting about 3:26 on the video) on YouTube
- Toby Litt, "Syd Barrett: A Very Irregular Head by Rob Chapman", The Guardian, 8 May 2010.
- Independent article Accessed 5 August 2008.
- "Poetry Olympics Twenty05 Celebrates Three Birthdays with a Jamboree of Stellar Performances at the Royal Albert Hall", edwinmorgan.com
- Sophie Parkin, "Walking to the beat of a new waste land: an interview with Michael Horovitz", 3:AM Magazine, 27 October 2007.
- The Guardian, 16 November 2000, p. 17.
- Lucie-Smith, Edward (1970), British Poetry since 1945.
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