New Bardic Chair of Exeter

On Sunday night at the Bike Shed Theatre, Jackie Juno, Grand Bard of Exeter, and Simon Williams, the outgoing Bard (or the Bardic Chair of Caer Wyse, to use the full title), hosted the traditional annual competition to find his successor.

Based on records dating back at least two hundred years, Exeter is one of approximately 30 ancient locations that have the right to elect their own Bard or “Bardic Chair” each year. The Bard of Exeter by tradition holds the post for a year and a day, before inviting challengers to succeed him/her.

This year’s contenders, Daniel Haynes, Elsie Katz, Tim King and Susan Taylor, performed and presented their vision of how they might use the role to benefit the City, poetry and the arts in general and to perpetuate and develop the institution and tradition of the Bardic Chair.

The standard was extremely high and some of the best of the local poetry scene was showcased in what turned out to be a highly enjoyable and entertaining evening.

The competition was judged by a secret ballot from the audience, and the overall winner was Daniel Haynes, a poet who has been well known at poetry slams and other events around the city and through the wider county for a number of years.

Jackie Juno, Grand Bard of Exeter, whose traditional role is to uphold and maintain the ancient tradition of the Bardic Chair, said: “It is such a privilege to preside over the Bardic Trials, and this year's event was as entertaining and profound as any other. In Daniel Haynes, Exeter has a Bard of which to be proud!”

The outgoing Bard of Exeter, Simon Williams has had a busy year, with performances across the county and an appearance on BBC Radio Devon. He has inaugurated a new poetry magazine, The Broadsheet, which was launched at the Exeter Poetry Festival in October 2013. The second issue will appear later this year.

Simon said: “I was delighted to co-host this great event, where contestants went head-to-head in a display of verbal dexterity, poetic bravado and Bardic ballyhoo to compete for the title of Bard of Exeter 2014. I was delighted to hand on the Bardic Chair and robes of office to Daniel Haynes, who won with a performance of equal parts humour and deep feeling. The voting was tight, but Daniel was rightly acclaimed winner by audience vote.”

The new Bard of Exeter, Daniel said: "I am delighted and proud to have been elected Bard of Exeter. It's a great honour to be chosen, as all contestants gave powerful and vibrant performances that showed the wealth of talent we have in Exeter.”

Photo by Andrew Hobbs Photography www.andrewhobbsphotography.co.uk

Pictured : Daniel Haynes, the new Bard of Exeter (centre in blue robes), photographed with previous bards Clive Pigg, Simon Williams, Mark Lindsey Earley, Jackie Juno, and fellow contestants, Elsie Katz, Susan Taylor and Tim King