{{Short description|Arts festival in England}} {{Use British English|date=September 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox recurring event | name = Larkin 25 – Arts Festival | native_name = | logo = | logo_caption = | image = Larkin25poster(320x200).JPG | imagesize = | caption = | location = [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] and [[East Riding of Yorkshire]] | years_active = | founded = | dates = 14 June to 2 December 2010 | genre = | attendance = | budget = | patron = | website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20100128134746/http://www.larkin25.co.uk/] }} '''Larkin 25''' was an [[arts festival]] and cultural event in [[Kingston upon Hull]], England, organised to mark the 25th anniversary of the death of the poet and [[University of Hull]] librarian, [[Philip Larkin]]. The festival was launched at [[Hull Truck Theatre]] on 14 June 2010 and concluded on 2 December 2010, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the poet's death, with the unveiling of a statue in his likeness at [[Hull Paragon Interchange]].<ref name="Larkinstatue">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/humberside/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_9252000/9252600.stm |title=Philip Larkin statue unveiled in Hull |date=2 December 2010 |work=BBC News Online |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2 December 2010}} </ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.larkin25.co.uk/larkin25-projects.php?project=12 |title=Philip Larkin statue at Paragon Station |date=2 December 2010 |publisher=Larkin 25 |accessdate=2 December 2010}} </ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.philiplarkin.com/events.htm |title=Events December 2010 |publisher=Philip Larkin Society |accessdate=2 December 2010}} </ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11890592 |title=Remembering Philip Larkin 25 years on |last=Youngs |first=Ian |date=2 December 2010 |work=BBC News Online |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2 December 2010}} </ref><ref name="mailLarkin">{{cite news |url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Philip-Larkin-statue-poetry-motion/article-2966204-detail/article.html |title=Bronze tribute depicts Philip Larkin rushing for train at Paragon |date=3 December 2010 |work=Hull Daily Mail |accessdate=3 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211155023/http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Philip-Larkin-statue-poetry-motion/article-2966204-detail/article.html |archive-date=11 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Philip Larkin== Larkin was born in [[Coventry]] and lived in Hull while he was head librarian at the [[Brynmor Jones Library]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Brynmor Jones Library, University of Hull |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/460207 |author=Paul Harrop}} </ref> from 1955 until his death in 1985. Larkin was a jazz critic for ''The Daily Telegraph'' between 1961 and 1971.<ref name="Spencer">{{cite news |last=Spencer |first=Charles |authorlink=Charles Spencer (journalist) |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=7 August 2010 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturecritics/charlesspencer/7931359/Philip-Larkins-jazz-box-set-will-be-pure-poetry.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811051609/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturecritics/charlesspencer/7931359/Philip-Larkins-jazz-box-set-will-be-pure-poetry.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 August 2010 |title=Philip Larkin's box-set will be pure poetry |accessdate=7 August 2010 |location=London}}</ref> He lived for the greater part of his time in Hull in a flat at [[32 Pearson Park, Hull|32 Pearson Park]] near the university.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/789274|title=31 and 32 Pearson Park, Hull|author=Paul Harrop}}</ref> In the 1970s he bought a house at [[Newland, Kingston upon Hull|Newland Park]].<ref>Paul Harrop. [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/789316 "105 Newland Park, Hull"]. </ref>

==Festival== The Larkin 25 festival coincided with Hull's annual literature festival, '[[Humber Mouth]]',<ref>*{{cite web |publisher=Humber Mouth |year=2010 |url=http://www.humbermouth.org.uk/ |title=HM10 |accessdate=18 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613154120/http://www.humbermouth.org.uk/ |archive-date=13 June 2013 |url-status=dead }} *{{cite web |url=http://www.larkin25.co.uk/ |title=Commemorating the life and work of Philip Larkin |publisher=Larkin25 |accessdate=4 June 2010 }} *{{cite web |url=http://www.digyorkshire.com/EventListing.aspx?Event=54932 |title=Larkin Revisited – Tom Courtenay |publisher=Dig Yorkshire |date=19 June 2010 |accessdate=15 September 2010 }} *{{cite AV media |people=Jones, Rebecca (interviewer) |date=16 June 2010 |title=Sir Tom Courtenay on 'my Larkin' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humberside/10538324.stm |medium=Radio broadcast |publisher=BBC Radio 4 Today |accessdate=1 July 2010 }} *{{cite web |publisher=Larkin 25 |date=7 July 2010 |url=http://www.larkin25.co.uk/news.php |title=Welcome aboard the Philip Larkin bus! |accessdate=12 October 2010 }} *{{cite news |work=BBC News Humberside |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-10671813 |title=Clipper round-the-world crews return to Humber |accessdate=17 October 2010 |date=17 July 2010 }} *{{cite web |url=http://www.citycare-developments.co.uk/newsItem.php?article=36 |title='City's healthiest Larkin25 toad goes on tour' |publisher=Citycare-developments.co.uk |accessdate=15 September 2010 }}</ref> and included walking tours, art and photography exhibitions, musical events and an exhibition of Larkin [[memorabilia]]. A compilation of Larkin's favourite jazz recordings titled "Larkin's Jazz" was released in conjunction with the festival.<ref name="Spencer"/> In June, Sir [[Tom Courtenay]] visited the University of Hull to perform a one-man play, ''Larkin Revisited'', and repeated the performance at Hull Truck Theatre in November 2010. A Hull city bus was named "Philip Larkin" by Sir [[Andrew Motion]] in honour of the poet. On 7 October 2010, "Poetry on the Buses" was launched in Hull and East Yorkshire to coincide with National Poetry Day. Forty of Larkin's poems were displayed on [[East Yorkshire Motor Services]] vehicles until the end of the festival in December 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/humberside/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_9070000/9070123.stm |title=Philip Larkin's poetry aboard East Yorkshire buses |work=BBC News |date=7 October 2010 |accessdate=8 October 2010}} </ref><ref>{{cite news |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=6 July 2010 |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/Buses-are-fare-way-to.6403079.jp |title=Buses are fare way to celebrate city poet |accessdate=7 July 2010}} </ref>

===Larkin with Toads=== [[File:Art installation Larkin with Toads 28.jpg|thumb|right|Number 10: representation of Larkin as a toad, [[Princes Quay|Princes Quay Shopping Centre]], Kingston upon Hull]] The centrepiece of the festival was a public art display and trail, "Larkin with Toads", launched in the city centre on Saturday 17 July.<ref name="Toads">{{cite news |url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Weird-wonderful-toads-hop-city-streets-Larkin-25-celebrations/article-2426721-detail/article.html |work=This is Hull and East Riding |date=17 July 2010 |title=Weird and wonderful toads hop onto city streets for Larkin 25 celebrations |accessdate=17 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720204846/http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Weird-wonderful-toads-hop-city-streets-Larkin-25-celebrations/article-2426721-detail/article.html |archive-date=20 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It consisted of 40 fibre-glass toad sculptures, each painted with a unique design created by artists and local people inspired by Larkin's poems about working life, ''Toads'' and ''Toads Revisited''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Companies-sign-Larkin-toad-sponsors/article-1991350-detail/article.html |title=Picking a Tigger toad for Larkin Festival |date=9 April 2010 |work=This is Hull and East Riding |accessdate=15 July 2010}} </ref><ref name="Flood12052010"/><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Toads-finishing-touches-hop-place-streets-Hull/article-2407474-detail/article.html |title = Larkin toads get finishing touches |date = 13 July 2010 |work = This is Hull and East Riding |accessdate = 15 July 2010 |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120503101809/http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Toads-finishing-touches-hop-place-streets-Hull/story-11972100-detail/story.html |archivedate = 3 May 2012 }} </ref> Examples of the designs included a "Larkin toad", a "Punk toad", a "Tiger Toad" (based on the mascot of [[Hull City A.F.C.]]) and a "Typographical toad" adorned with Larkin's poetry.<ref name="Flood12052010">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/may/12/philip-larkin-toads-25th-anniversary |last=Flood |first=Alison |title=Hull to mark 25th anniversary of Larkin's death with giant model toads |date=12 May 2010 |work=The Guardian |accessdate=4 June 2010 |location=London}} </ref> The toads were auctioned for charity at the end of the event, though there were calls to make them a permanent feature. Most of the sculptures have been removed and transported to their new owners<ref name="Toads2" >{{cite news |work=This is Hull and East Riding |date=20 July 2010 |url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/City-s-toad-invasion-stay-overwhelming-response-public/article-2432738-detail/article.html |title=City's toad invasion could be here to stay after 'incredibly positive' response |accessdate=20 July 2010}} </ref> but some remained [[in situ]] after the sale. On 26 September 2010 it was reported that the toads had been auctioned for £60,000 though some had hoped their popularity could have made them a permanent feature.<ref name="Toads2" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-11411417 |work=BBC News Humberside |title=Hull's Larkin toads make £60,000 at charity auction |date=26 September 2010 |accessdate=4 October 2010}} </ref>

{{multiple image | align = right | total_width = 320

| image1 = Larkin toad, Hull (2) - geograph.org.uk - 1965740.jpg | alt1 = | caption1 =

| image2 = The vandalised toad - geograph.org.uk - 1971540.jpg | alt2 = | caption2 =

| footer = The "punk toad" before and after being vandalised. }} The Larkin toad trail covered many locations in the city centre, such as Hull Paragon Interchange, Hull Truck Theatre, the [[Kingston upon Hull#Museums-quarter|Museums Quarter]] and [[The Deep (aquarium)|The Deep]]. There were toads in the [[St. Stephen's Hull|St Stephen's]], [[Princes Quay]] and Prospect shopping centres. Other toads were located in outlying areas, such as The Avenues and the university, with some beyond Hull's boundaries in areas of the East Riding of Yorkshire familiar to Larkin, including one in [[Beverley]].

By late July 2010 the ''[[Hull Daily Mail]]'' reported that over 30,000 guides had been distributed and a marketing company was employed to manage the high level of public interest.<ref>{{cite news |work=This is Hull and East Riding |date=27 July 2010|url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Larkin-Toads-trail-guide-maps-leap-shelves/article-2456448-detail/article.html |title=Toad trail maps leap off shelves |accessdate=27 July 2010}} </ref>

During the festival some Larkin toads were vandalised and stolen.<ref name="Toads3" >{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-10717409 |title=Hull's Larkin toads attacked by vandals |date=21 July 2010 |work=BBC News Humberside |accessdate=21 July 2010}} </ref><ref>{{cite news |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=20 July 2010 |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Toads-in-a-hole-as.6430636.jp |title=Toads in a hole as tributes hit by pond life |accessdate=28 July 2010}} </ref> A 'punk toad' near Hull Truck Theatre had its mohican hair ripped off, and an 'astronaut toad' outside the railway station was damaged. The organisers repaired the damage and made the toads more resilient to vandalism.<ref name="Toads3" /><ref name="Toads4" >{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/7902479/Philip-Larkin-toads-vandalised.html |title=Philip Larkin toads vandalised |date=21 July 2010 |work=The Telegraph |accessdate=23 July 2010 |location=London |first=Stephen |last=Adams}} </ref> The Magenta Toad was stolen from [[Melton, East Riding of Yorkshire|Melton]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-11207982 |title=Thieves steal giant Philip Larkin toad in Hull |work=BBC News Humberside |accessdate=6 September 2010 |date=6 September 2010}} </ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Larkin-toad-stolen-North-Ferriby/article-2610017-detail/article.html |title=Larkin Toad stolen from North Ferriby |work=This is Hull and East Riding |date=6 September 2010 |accessdate=6 September 2010}} </ref> It was later found dumped by the [[A63 road|A63]] and recovered for repair.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Stolen-toad-dumped-A63/article-2613466-detail/article.html |title=Stolen toad found dumped by A63 |work=This is Hull and East Riding |date=7 September 2010 |accessdate=7 September 2010}} </ref>

A report after the event has suggested that the toad trail brought about £1&nbsp;million in to the local economy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-12823841 |title=Hull's toads sculpture trail brings £1m to city |date=22 March 2011 |work=BBC News Humberside |publisher=BBC |accessdate=24 March 2011}}</ref>

===Philip Larkin statue=== [[File:Philip Larkin Statue Hull.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Bronze Statue of Philip Larkin, by sculptor Martin Jennings, at [[Hull Paragon Interchange]]]] On the 25th anniversary of his Larkin's death, Thursday 2 December 2010, the festival concluded with the unveiling of a life-size [[bronze]] statue at Hull Paragon Interchange by the Lord Mayor.<ref name="Larkinstatue"/><ref>The statue portrays Larkin hurrying to catch a train with a manuscript under his arm and is inscribed with the first line of his poem, "[[The Whitsun Weddings (poem)|The Whitsun Weddings]]".*{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-10878246 |title=Council go-ahead for Larkin statue |date=5 August 2010 |work=BBC News Humberside |publisher=BBC |accessdate=16 October 2010 }} *{{cite news |url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Statue-poet-Philip-Larkin-erected-Paragon-Station/article-2493377-detail/article.html |title=Life-size statue of Larkin to be put up at Paragon station – despite divided opinion |date=5 August 2010 |work=This is Hull and East Riding |accessdate=16 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806181457/http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Statue-poet-Philip-Larkin-erected-Paragon-Station/article-2493377-detail/article.html |archive-date=6 August 2010 |url-status=dead }} *{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/8519990.stm |title=Sculptor chosen for Larkin statue |date=17 February 2010 |work=BBC News Online |publisher=BBC |accessdate=12 July 2010 }} *{{cite news |url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Festival-celebrate-Philip-Larkin-s-life-kicks/article-2298113-detail/article.html |title=Festival to celebrate Philip Larkin's life kicks-off |date=14 June 2010 |work=This is Hull and East Riding |accessdate=14 June 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505081928/http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Festival-celebrate-Philip-Larkin-s-life-kicks/article-2298113-detail/article.html |archive-date=5 May 2013 |url-status=dead }} *{{cite news |work=BBC News Humberside |date=11 February 2010 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/humberside/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8510000/8510752.stm |title=Commemorations planned for Hull poet Philip Larkin |accessdate=1 July 2010 }}</ref><ref name="buses">{{cite news |work=BBC News Humberside |date=7 July 2010 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humberside/10538324.stm |title=Hull's buses display Larkin's poems in tribute to poet |accessdate=7 July 2010}} </ref> Funding for the £100,000 statue was raised during the festival.<ref name="mailLarkin"/> The unveiling was accompanied by Nathaniel Seaman's ''Fanfare for Larkin'', specially composed to mark the occasion.

Martin Jennings produced the sculpture using photographs from the University of Hull's Larkin Research Centre and researched his poems and biography to "get a sense of the man."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/entertainmentnews/Sculpture-captures-poet-motion/article-2971597-detail/article.html |title=Sculptor captures poetry in motion: Martin Jennings on his Philip Larkin statue |date=6 December 2010 |work=Hull Daily Mail |accessdate=6 December 2010}} </ref> He worked on the [[maquette]] for the finished casting at his studio in Coombe, Oxfordshire. Professor James Booth of the [[Philip Larkin Society]] described the statue as, "magnificent, poetic, refined, exactly the Larkin I'm familiar with." The statue was gifted to the people of Hull by the Philip Larkin Society.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Poet39s-deep-affection-for-Hull.6648512.jp |title=Poet's deep affection for Hull recognised in statue |date=2 December 2010 |work=The Yorkshire Post |accessdate=3 December 2010}} </ref> On 2 December 2011, a year since the original unveiling ceremony, five additional slate roundels containing inscriptions of Larkin's poems were installed in the floor space around the statue. The sculpture has become a popular subject for photography at the Interchange.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Larkin-s-words-set-greet-visitors-Hull/story-13928283-detail/story.html |title=Larkins words set to greet visitors |date=23 November 2011 |work=Hull Daily Mail |accessdate=6 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124114727/http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Larkin-s-words-set-greet-visitors-Hull/story-13928283-detail/story.html |archive-date=24 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In December 2012 a [[memorial bench]] was installed around a pillar near the statue.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-20572472 |title=Philip Larkin honoured at Hull Paragon station |date=2 December 2012 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |accessdate=6 December 2012}}</ref>

===Reception=== ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' opined that the reclusive Larkin would be unimpressed by the event<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=12 January 2010 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/6972284/Hull-organises-Philip-Larkin-tourist-tour-for-25th-anniversary-of-death.html |title=Hull organises tourist tour for 25th anniversary of death |accessdate=1 October 2010 |location=London |edition=Culture section}} </ref> and Stephen McClarence in ''[[The Times]]'' observed that "the city is celebrating this year's 25th anniversary of his death in fine style."<ref>{{cite news |author=McClarence, Steve |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/poetry-in-the-provincial-philip-larkins-hull-t9qvvj67w6z |title=Poetry in the provincial: Philip Larkin's Hull |work=[[The Times]] |location=London |date=18 June 2010 |access-date=18 June 2010}}{{Subscription required}} </ref> Plans for the sculpture trail were initially criticised because of concerns about expenditure during the [[late-2000s recession]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metro.co.uk/news/817476-hull-council-spends-200-000-on-toads |title=Hull council spends £200,000 on toads |last=Thornhill |first=Ted |date=15 March 2010 |work=Metro.co.uk |publisher=Associated Newspapers Limited |accessdate=5 June 2010}} </ref> but the event went ahead. Artists were invited to design a toad and sponsorship invited. When the toads were displayed the ''Hull Daily Mail'' reported that opinion had shifted in favour of the sculptures and an online poll recorded a majority of readers favouring the event.<ref name="Toads" /> In December 2010 the ''Hull Daily Mail'' described the exhibition as "hugely successful".<ref name= mailLarkin/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *{{cite news |last=Thwaite |first=Anthony |work=New Statesman |date=12 July 2010 |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/books/2010/07/larkin-verse-poems-poet |title=Toad trip 25 years on |accessdate=3 August 2010}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Larkin with Toads}} *[http://www.larkin25.co.uk/ Larkin 25 Festival – official website] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/humberside/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8829000/8829935.stm BBC Humberside slideshow of Larkin with Toad trail] *[https://www.flickr.com/photos/larkin25 Larkin 25 on Flickr.com] *[https://archive.today/20121220043915/http://preview1.namesco.net/~larkin25.co.uk/education-news.php 'Larkin with Toads' Education information] *[http://www.larkin25.co.uk/design-gallery.php Larkin with Toads design gallery] *[http://www.larkin25.co.uk/location-map.php Map of Larkin with Toads city trail] *[http://leaflet.raggedred.net/toadmap.htm Interactive map showing location of the toads, with a picture of each]

{{Philip Larkin}}

[[Category:Philip Larkin]] [[Category:University of Hull]] [[Category:Culture in Kingston upon Hull]] [[Category:Literary festivals in England]] [[Category:Festivals in the East Riding of Yorkshire]] [[Category:2010 in England]] [[Category:2010s in Kingston upon Hull]]