This Is The Place poet honoured by Salford Uni
TONY WALSH TO BE AWARDED A DOCTOR OF LETTERS DEGREE
IN the aftermath of the Arena attack Tony Walsh became the symbol for a city.
His poem - This Is The Place - a love letter to Manchester and its cultural legacy became an ‘antidote’ to the horror which claimed 22 lives.
The 6ft 5in Walsh, a former council officer in a tough parts of Salford, and Manchester, saw his words become famous around the world.
Now he is to be honoured by the University of Salford.
A Doctor of Letters degree will be presented to him at The Lowry arts centre on July 19 in recognition of his services to poetry.
Tony, also known as Longfella because of his stature, was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2016, and has performed at music and literary events around Europe and leads poetry workshops in schools internationally as well as in prisons and homeless.
He later ‘gave’ the poem to the people of Greater Manchester, ensuring any royalties would go to the Forever Manchester charity which funds community projects.
Proceeds from the sale of items featuring poem lines have so far raised £200,000 for the charity along with the We Love MCR Emergency Fund and The Greater Manchester Mayor’s Homelessness Fund.
Tony has also recently written a poem celebrating the 80th anniversary of Manchester Airport, while a new work will be launched at the Imperial War Museum North on July 26. His second collection of poetry will be published in September.
But although he had been writing poetry privately since the age of five, Tony did not perform his work in public until the age of 39.
He studied Business And Administration at the University of Salford in the 1980s, but dropped out and went on to work as a housing manager for Manchester council and on community regeneration projects for Salford council.
He eventually becoming a fulltime poet in 2011. He said: “I have a 35-year history of, at different times, studying, working, living, teaching, broadcasting and performing in Salford and so to be honoured in this way means a very great deal to me.
“I dedicate this award to the many amazing people in the great City of Salford and the wider city region of Greater Manchester whose spirit continues to prove that this is indeed THE Place! Huge thanks to all who have blessed me with support.”
Beth Hewitt, Director of Broadcast Media at the University of Salford, said: “Tony has been an inspirational figure to so many people, nationally and globally.”