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MATT HARVEY - resident of Totnes, writer of sharply witty poetry and prose, performer on the alternative circuit, radio 4 broadcaster, co-author of the captions in Stone's Glastonbury book... and new Connect columnist. Here's Matt's - TOTNES!
TOTNES!
I'M really proud to come from Totnes, although, strictly speaking, I don't. I wasn't born here, I wasn't brought up here, but I've lived here longer than I've lived anywhere else so, when I'm performing elsewhere in the country, I say I'm from Totnes, and people titter. I explain Totnes' alternative reputation to the rest of the audience and they join the tittering.
To put it crassly, there's alternative Totnes (crystals, chakras, complementary therapies) and activist Totnes (direct action, peace vigils, articulate anti-war chalk graffiti). The two don't necessarily coincide, but they can overlap. And while more associated with the former, I'm proud to be connected, however vaguely and spuriously, with activist Totnes.
Recently I took part in an anti-war demo. I was invited to read a poem: 'Do you have any war poems? Anti-war poems, obviously, ha ha.' 'Um, no. I don't have any pro-war poems either. Well, hardly any, ha ha.'
In the end I read an Adrian Mitchell poem, Final Chant, from The Body, a simple, moving piece with no hidden meanings. The march was reported in our local paper, The Totnes Times, alongside a piece stating that, in accordance with owner Ray Tindle's desire to 'back our troops', this would be the last time they'd report such events until after hostilities had ceased.
At which there was outrage and indignation. Pavement graffiti was stepped up. 'Boycott the Totnes Times', thundered a paving stone by the Civic Square. 'Back the Troops, Sack the Masters', muttered a slab in the Narrows.
The biodegradable graffiti became so plentiful, topical and detailed it was like an alternative local paper in itself. I fully expected to find a '£250 and under' column outside Woolworth's, and a round up of the WIs by the Guildhall.
Then a real alternative newspaper came along. It has the same blue banner title, the same typeface as The Totnes Times, but closer inspection reveals it to be The Troubled Times. It's brilliant. Passionate, funny and informative. Poetic, even. There are many definitions of poetry, ranging from 'emotion recollected in tranquillity' through 'the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits' to my favourite: 'poetry is news that stays news'. By this criterion the Troubled Times just about qualifies.
And you don't have to be local to enjoy it. Ask someone you know in Totnes to get you a copy. Or get to know someone in Totnes. Remember to approach them gently. If you find you startle them away, try Harlequin Bookshop. Here you'll need to speak firmly and brook no nonsense. And buy one of my books while you're there.
Matt Harvey
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