The well-attended Proverse Spring Reception 2025 took place at the Helena May, and we welcomed two poets from Singapore for the first time.
First came a heartfelt expression of gratitude for the support received from time to time from Hong Kong Arts Development Council. Next, Proverse authors present were introduced. Then came two sad announcements.
An early winner in the Proverse Prize competition, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas, regarded as a cultural icon in her home country, The Bahamas, had passed some days previously. In tribute, a video of her reading a poem from her collection, Chasing Light, was shown. The title? ‘Conversation with God’.
As many already knew, the warmly loved, multi-talented, well-respected and distinguished Co-founder of the International Proverse Prizes, Dr. Verner Bickley, MBE, passed on 9 February this year, some weeks before his 99th birthday.
His wife, Gillian, spoke about Verner’s talent and passion for words and summarised some of the tributes received.
Susannah Morley, Director, British Council, Hong Kong, spoke about Verner’s work, early in life, as an Education Officer of the British Council, based, in turn, in Burma, Indonesia and Japan, putting him firmly in the context of the pioneering early days of the Council’s work around the world.
A curated video of the Spring event can be viewed on YouTube via the links below!
Part One includes brief footage of those leaving the Service of Thanksgiving for Verner’s life, which took place on 7 May, at St John’s Anglican Cathedral in Hong Kong. A video of the service itself, made by the Cathedral can be viewed on YouTube here.
Gillian introduced new Proverse author, Peter Cookson Smith. Peter already has 8 books under his belt, in the area of his professional expertise, urban planning. His new book, which he introduced, Tales from a Contested City, is his first foray into creative writing.
Next came a brief videoed explanation from Proverse Prize Co-Founder and Proverse Co-Publisher, Dr Verner Bickley, made a few years ago, of the reasons for establishing the Proverse Prizes, followed by a brief description by his wife, Gillian, of how the prizes are administered and what types of work are suitable for entry.
Gillian announced that some of the 2024 entries are still being considered for supplementary prizes. These would be announced and launched at the Proverse Autumn Reception 2025.
Then, Gillian introduced Mingled Voices 9, the 2024 Proverse Poetry Prize Anthology. The set topic for 2024 was, ‘Together’. Poems could also be on any subject chosen by each poet and in any form, style, or genre, typically no more than 30 lines long. Entrants came from Hong Kong and around the world – Australia, Canada, Chile, Ireland, New Zealand, the PRC, Portugal, Singapore, the USA, the UK. Jeffrey Streeter, Writer and critic, formerly Director, British Council Hong Kong, introduced Mingled Voices 9: International Proverse Poetry Prize Anthology 2024. Then we enjoyed varied readings from the anthology from poets present and poets around the world who had sent video-recordings.
Entries are now being received for the Proverse Prizes 2025. The set topic for the Proverse Poetry Prize 2025 is, ‘The Gift‘. (Please NB, poets are free to send in poems on any other topic of their choice.) But hurry! The initial entry period ends on 30 June! Please see https://proversehongkong.submittable.com/submit
We look forward to reading your work!
Proverse Publishing 