Edward Storey, was an English poet, dramatist and non-fiction writer. He was born at Whittlesey on 28 February 1930, which was part of the Isle of Ely in Cambridgeshire, and the Fens inspired much of his work. Before becoming a full-time writer in the late 1960s, he completed National Service and worked in adult education for the Peterborough City Education Authority, he also worked with the Workers' Educational Association. His first volume of poetry was published in 1969 in the Phoenix Living Poets series. In one of his early works Portrait of the Fen Country he reflected upon his childhood understanding of the world as it was shaped by his fenland experience. In Fen Boy First published by Robert Hale Ltd he gave an account of his childhood growing up in Whittlesey, and in Fen Country Christmas he collected a number of stories, legends and fenland superstitions. He was one of the founder members of the John Clare Society and the literature panel of the Eastern Arts Association. He moved to Walesin 1999. For many years he was President of The Friends of St Michael's, the church next to his home in Discoed; the Friends association fundraises for the restoration of the building and for other causes through arts events. New poetry collections, inspired by the localborder country and other sources, were written for the Friends of St Michael's under a self-publishing imprint. Seeing the Light published Leverett Press in 2015 is just one of these works. Edward Storey died at his home in Discoed early on the morning of 18 November 2018. The funeral service took place at St. Michaels church, Discoed on 5 December. Edward Storey's poems and libretti have been set to music by Trevor Hold, Adrian Williams, David Twigg, Cecilia MacDowell, Trevor Jones and others, leading to performances and/or recordings. Recent CD recordings of musical settings of Edward's poems are 'Pure Music' featuring Voller String Quartet and mezzo-soprano Zarah Hible, and 'Spirit Songs' featuring soprano Louise Wayman accompanied by pianist Sarah Gard. The music on these recording is by Trevor Jones. "'A deeply meditative poet who sees in nature a mirror for the human condition and sensibility.. these are beautifully crafted poems that exist because they have to.." The Poetry Quarterly Review "..You won't find a poet who can quite do what Storey does..." Envoi "effortless in its voice, language and poetic form, and in its relationship with the reader... never slight nor dependent on conventional sentiment, but marked by grace or gravitas..." Ambit
