IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Due to avoidable circumstances, the 4th Bob Cobbing Celebration Reading by
Maggie O'Sullivan and Jennifer Cobbing scheduled for 6th December 2004 HAS
BEEN CANCELLED.
The SVP readings at CPT for 17 Jan and 28 Feb remain on schedule
The cancellation may adversely affect the possibility of continued use of
CPT for poetry - please support the January events
I apologise to everyone who was looking forward to this event. Yes, it is
the second cancellation of this event. The first was absolutely
unavoidable. The second…
Inevitably, I shall be asked why; and it gets awkward. But I do not want to
be thought to be at fault.
(A summary of the reasons for the cancellation is given below. It is as
accurate as possible. Names are covered by labels.)
THE REASON
22nd June 2004
SVP announced the new date (6th December) for 4th Bob Cobbing Celebration -
a set of performances by Maggie O'Sullivan and Jennifer Pike Cobbing, to
replace the June date which had been cancelled due to the fatal illness of
Maggie O'Sullivan's father
July 2004
Another organiser undertakes to organise a reading by a Famous Poet on 6th
December 2004. He does not tell SVP. [This info learned 8 November 04]
August - October
Bob Cobbing's 4th Celebration repeatedly announced at readings and on lists
Tues 7th November
SVP confirms broad travel / hotel arrangements with Maggie O'Sullivan
Wednesday 8th November
SVP confirms details with Jennifer Cobbing
Wednesday 8th November, evening
The Other Organiser writes to SVP of "an unfortunate clash that has arisen,
and I wanted to do this before advertising anything further. […]
I should have made you aware of the clash but being very busy with too much
else, unfortunately I didn't. I also accept that letting you know about it
sooner than this may have been a good idea, but having said that, I'm not
sure it would have actually changed anything - the 6th is the only date I
can do anything on, and having already re-arranged the Cobbing tribute, my
thinking has been that you wouldn't have wanted to change it again."
SVP writes back
Protests at not being told and that the Other Organiser is prepared to "go
ahead regardless, because I know that people will go to what you are
organising"
Says apart from anything else a large gate is needed to cover costs and
asks Can you cover that please?
Notes also "damage that will be done to Chris Goode's argument for CPT
continuing as a poetry venue"
CPT informed of problem
Other organiser responds
he will pay some money, quite a bit, towards costs if SVP goes ahead but
also suggests movement to another day - his cannot be moved
He has, without authority, already rung the hotel he imagines is involved
and the rail company to negotiate cancellation. Offers money for this
option " in recognition of that inconvenience." but less than for the other
+ a public apology on this option only
NB He has already tried to put this proposal directly to Maggie, leaving a
message for *her to ring *him
The message does not mention Jennifer
SVP replies
SVP reading isn't moveable & suggests *he cancels
SVP says this is an important reading in itself, a reading by one of the
finest poets around and a performance 40 years on of Cobbing's ABC in Sound.
"It is also part of the planned series of Cobbing celebrations, unavoidably
cancelled once; and we all owe Bob; and have, I believe, an imperative upon
us to remember him for what he did for us. It is important too to Jennifer
who has suffered one cancellation already and has invested a lot
emotionally in this: to her, of course, this is far more than another
reading.
Finally, it is important as *the way of showing the new CPT director the
viability of poetry at CPT", given the likely undivided audience
"if you go ahead with your reading, it would be prudent to cancel, and that
is what we would do."
The other organiser responds
by ringing Maggie not SVP and suggesting that SVP's reading is held on the
same night but late, AFTER his; the inverse is not on offer
The proposal is declined
The other organiser responds
by writing to SVP of "your joint decision to cancel the SVP reading." (no
mention of Jennifer)
The promised money is to be paid in the future
The promised public apology will not be given: "I am intending to wait for
you to make an announcement regarding the cancellation of the SVP event
before I then announce the Famous Poet reading. Say if you want to do it
differently."
SVP responds
Corrects untruth about cancellation
+ "it would be quite inappropriate for me to make the announcement now as
there are other people involved to whom I am going to speak when a good
opportunity presents itself - and before announcing anything"
suggest he cancels
Other organiser does not respond
Jennifer Cobbing is informed
2/3 days later
Other organiser rings Maggie and says he has now found he may not need 6th
December after all. Nothing however is certain. He asks Maggie to ring SVP
and then phone him back
SVP replies
if even now he doesn't know what he is doing and still insists on his
priority, there can be no more delay and the cancellation stands
other organiser rings SVPfor the first time and gets the voicemail; then
writes insisting it isn't his fault
CPT is informed the cancellation is definite
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