Lancashire Writing Hub's Word Soup at the Continental in Preston hosts the Lapwing poetry tour on Thursday night, with Ian Parks and Andrew Oldham. Also on the bill on 28 July are David Cooke, Ron Scowcroft, Rachel McGladdery and Norman Hadley. There will be the usual open mic slot, and more magic before 8pm and in the interval from Magic Mark.

Ian Parks’ collections include Shell Island, The Cage and Love Poems 1979-2009. The Landing Stage, his latest collection, is published by Lapwing, Belfast. Ian has shared his knowledge and experience of selecting poems for publication with Lancashire Writing Hub readers.

Andrew Oldham is an award-winning writer and poet. Ghosts of a Low Moon, his first collection, is published by Lapwing.  He has shared his considerable expertise on contemporary issues on getting published with Lancashire Writing Hub readers.

David Cooke won a Gregory award in 1977 and published Brueghel’s Dancers in 1984, but stopped writing for 20 years. His retrospective collection, In The Distance, has just been published by Night Publishing and a further collection, Work Horses will be published by Ward Wood Publishing in 2012.   

Ron Scowcroft's poetry was shortlisted for the 2010 Templar Pamphlet prize. He is a member of April Poets and frequently works in collaboration with painter and print-maker, John M. Morrison; their Peninsula’ exhibition of visual art and poetry will be held at The Dukes Gallery, Lancaster, 16-31 August.   

Rachel McGladdery has performed at Word Soup in Preston several times, and several other poetry events in the north-west. She won the NXNW Slam in August 2010 at the Tudor House Wigan and the title of Liverpool Lennon Poet 2010 in November 2010. 

Norman Hadley  has completed three and a half poetry collections. The most recent, full-sized collection is A Whoop Above the Dust, September 2010.