Five lucky members of the Scarborough Writers’ Circle were privileged to be invited to attend Poet Laureate Simon Armitage’s ‘library tour’ event at Newby/Scalby library on 25th February 2026. Poet Khadijah Ibrahiim joined him.

The event was opened by Isobel Nixon, Chair of Trustees of Newby/Scalby Library.

Sue: Khadijah opened with a poem about her schooldays in Leeds, transporting many of us back to our own time at school, and this was followed by other poems. Her style sang to me, while painting wonderful pictures in my head.

Simon followed, and he was quick to point out that Khadijah had already upstaged him with her colourful and vibrant outfit!

He read several of his poems, introducing them with his self-deprecating humour. His descriptions were stunning—at times, I closed my eyes, immersed in the poem.

Dorinda: Khadijah’s voice, delivery, and the descriptiveness of the poems were mesmerising. I found myself hanging onto every word. One described an older woman selling vegetables in Jamaica, and I could see and hear her vividly. From the start, Khadijah’s style was so friendly and approachable; she had us all relaxed and singing the gospel song, “Kumbya”.

I loved Simon’s down-to-earth manner and the rapport he built with us. His poetry has a beauty that lingers with me; the refrain in one of his poems is still going around in my head. There’s nothing like hearing poetry read by the writer of it.

His readings were interspersed with interesting and humorous stories and asides, and I found that adding in something of himself shone a sharper light on his poems.

Karen: I thoroughly enjoyed listening to both speakers. Their chosen words painted vivid images of places and experiences that I have not seen or heard of before. The sounds resonated in a delicious harmony. It’s an experience I will never forget.

Shirley: I loved my evening with Khadijah Ibrahiim and Simon Armitage at Newby and Scalby library. Khadijah took to the stage first and cut a striking figure, bedecked in jewellery, with her hair piled on top of her head. She was warm and funny, and her poems were quite lyrical. One of her poems in particular contained cultural references from my teenage years – Jackie magazine, top twenty on the radio on a Sunday night, Top of the Pops and Bay City Rollers – although I was more of a Slade fan!

Simon’s poetry was very rhythmic, and it was wonderful to hear his voice reading it. I loved the quirky ideas contained in his work, in particular a poem called “Causeway”, about a family crossing a causeway as the tide is coming in. After reading out his poems, he answered every question that was thrown to him with full, considered answers, revealing a lot about himself, his family and Marsden, the village where he grew up.

Jill: To be honest, I’d always thought Simon Armitage was a bit low-key — his voice quiet, nasal, with little resonance. But he came over as bold, witty and self-deprecating. He fielded the same old questions with enthusiasm. His poems were varied — funny, sad, apocalyptic. Working through the alphabet, he’s visiting libraries starting with N, O and P this spring. Next stop is Orkney. Isn’t that where people get murdered? Oh, no — that’s Shetland.

Khadijah Ibrahiim is a Leeds lass like me. And that’s where the similarity ends. I felt like a dull brown sparrow beside a flamingo when I went up to receive my raffle prize — her book of poems. She has charisma oozing from every pore. Though Yorkshire born and bred, she sang her poems with a lyrical Jamaican beat of calypso and reggae. She told of an old lady selling callaloo, a spinach-like plant. I’ll look out for some when I’m next in Leeds market.

A fabulous evening.

Judy: Two very different poets, each with wonderfully different actual and poetic voices, whose chosen poems were interesting and engaging. I thought they connected really well with the audience, and both seemed to be relaxed and enjoying themselves! Both made me laugh out loud with their comments, anecdotes and observations, and I felt we were given a privileged insight into how their poems came to be written.

It is certainly an evening I will remember!

It was altogether a very relaxed visit, and an entertaining evening made even more memorable by the incredible background work put in by the trustees, library volunteers, lighting technicians and musicians (Beth Mokrini and Rob Nixon).

Report by Dorinda Cass