George West known as the Brandon poet was born in the Brandon area and educated at the old grammar school on the Market Hill. His book of poems was published in 1860.
Many of his poems are based on his travels around the area describing what he sees traveling through the towns and the surrounding area thus giving us a wonderful historical account of the towns and countryside at that time.
His Poem “An Evenings Walk” takes us on a journey from Brandon Market Hill along the avenue to the church then onto Brandon Hall finishing at Foord House the old rectory.
For the Queens platinum Jubilee Brandon Creative forum along with Marketplace (Arts Council) created about two dozen lanterns which were decorated by many different organisations in the town and then they were hung along the avenue powered by solar lighting. This recreated a similar event during Queen Victoria’s reign to celebrate a similar anniversary when lanterns were also hung along the avenue powered by candles. This spectacle apparently attracted people from miles around to view.
Brandon Creative forum along with Marketplace (Arts Council) commissioned actor Terry Malloy to record the poem “An Evenings Walk” which could be downloaded onto mobile phones and listened to while walking along the avenue looking at the lanterns. Please click on the link shown below to listen to the poem https://bit.ly/AnEveningWalkPoem