As it’s the first of November I am presenting my poem Ottery Tar Barrel Rollers, with an illustration by Chris Wakefield, to celebrate the annual Tar Barrel event in Ottery St Mary. This year’s ‘rolling’ will take place on the 4th November.

For further details about the history of this occasion, here is a good place to visit, and do check out the numerous photos online – though you need to see it in person to believe the genuinely spectacular!

Out of interest, a first draft of the image which conveyed much of the inherent menace in the tar-lined, flaming barrels, but it made the rollers themselves seem intimidating  – which is a part of the exciting spectacle, but it is not their manner, so to speak, so we changed!