Norman Hidden, 1913-2006

Norman Frederick Hidden was born in 1913. His experiences at school were the subject of his first memoir Dr. Kink & his old-style boarding school. Fragments of autobiography (London, 1973). He studied English at Brasenose College, Oxford and became a teacher. At the outbreak of World War II he was in America on an exchange visit; on his return, he enlisted in the army, becoming a liaison officer with the American forces in Germany, 1944-47 (the subject of another memoir Liaison officer. Germany and the Anglo-US occupation 1946-47 (Frinton-on-Sea, 1993)). He returned to teaching, at Goole, then Hornchurch Grammar School, Essex and finally as Senior Lecturer in English, College of All Saints, Tottenham (1964-1973).

In addition to his strong interest in the teaching of poetry, NH had a practical interest in the fostering of the creation of contemporary poetry by encouraging the reading, performance and publication of current work. This becomes evident in the later 1960s when he and his wife Joyce organised poetry readings at the Lamb & Flag pub, starting in 1966. These developed into other readings and events, as well as the foundation of the Workshop Press to publish new poetry, by both established and new writers. This started in September 1967 with the publication of the first issue of Writers' Workshop, abbreviated to Workshop at the second issue (January 1968), renamed Workshop new poetry from the thirteenth issue (September 1971) and New poetry from the twenty-eighth issue (1974) until it closed in 1981. This magazine was published three times a year, funded by subscriptions, and was occasionally supplemented by books of poetry by single authors issued in a uniform series as the Workshop Poets.

Hidden was also involved in the British poetry establishment. As the Chairman of the Poetry Society (1968-1971) he led one of the most successful periods of the Society's existence, combining the commemoration of great national poets with the fostering of contemporary and local activities. After his retirement, in the 1980s and 1990s he continued to write, short stories as well as poetry, and several memoirs including A passion for poetry (Frinton-on-Sea, 2006). This work includes many episodes from his literary life; it was not formally published, but rather copies were intended to be sent to various literary archives. Norman Hidden died in 2006.

From the guide to the Norman Hidden Collection, 1934-2010, (Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections)