Tiny In All That Air
Episodes
Ghosts by Philip Larkin
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To mark Halloween, Lyn takes us on a walk around her local cemetery and reads Ghosts by Philip Larkin.Thank you to Joe Riley for inspiration - please ...
Chris Sewart Discusses All Things PLS
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lyn and Chris discuss the recent writing workshop run by the Philip Larkin Society called Drafting a World: a Poetry Writing Workshop inspired by the ...
Daniel Seifert- Two Guitars and Days
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Seifert is a journalist and editor who has written for the New York Times, National Geographic and BBC. His poems have appeared in Poetry W...
The Less Deceived full reading for Larkin's birthday
09 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This year we celebrate Larkin’s birthday and the 70 year anniversary of the publication of The Less Deceived with a full reading of Larkin's sec...
Ralph Dartford
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest today is writer Ralph Dartford who works for the National Literacy Trust and is the poetry editor of literary journal Northern Gravy. R...
David Biespiel
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
'It was not easy to find a poet in the United States in my reading,who wrote with the clarity and intelligence that Larkin possessed. I found him ...
Rishi Dastidar
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest today is Rishi Dastidar who is a poet and editor based in London. Rishi discusses his own particular view of Larkin’s portrayal of English...
Five Year Anniversary Celebration
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Reading Larkin’s poetry Eddie Dawes - The Trees (Aug 2022) Graham Chesters- The First Thing (Aug 2021) David Quantick - Days (Aug 22) Imti...
Kate Romano, CEO Stapleford Granary
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest today is Kate Romano. Kate is the CEO of arts centre Stapleford Granary which recently dedicated a whole weekend to celebrating many differe...
Joe Riley Presents: This Be The Verse
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
They might not meant to, but they do... Joe Riley, teacher and poet of no great renown, is a lifelong lover of Larkin. In this series he attempts to ...
High Windows- A full reading to celebrate Larkin's birthday on 9th August
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today on the 9th August we celebrate Philip Larkin’s birthday and we read High Windows from start to end, in order to mark the 50th anniversary of L...
Joe Riley Presents: The Whitsun Weddings
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
That Whitsun, I was late getting away: Joe Riley, teacher and poet of no great renown, is a lifelong lover of Larkin. In this series he attempts to r...
Joe Riley Presents: Cut Grass
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cut grass lies frail... Joe Riley, teacher and poet of no great renown, is a lifelong lover of Larkin. In this series he attempts to read some of Lar...
Philip Larkin in China
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest today is Douglas Bell, Professor of English Language Education at the School of Education, University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China. Professo...
Joe Riley Presents: Church Going
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
'Once I am sure there's nothing going on I step inside, letting the door thud shut...' Joe Riley, teacher and poet of no great renown, i...
In Celebration of Betty Mackereth
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Betty Mackereth was Philip Larkin’s secretary at the library at the University of Hull. They were work colleagues and good friends, growing clos...
Joe Riley Presents: The Trees
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The trees are coming into leaf Like something almost being said Joe Riley, teacher and poet of no great renown, is a lifelong lover of Larkin. In thi...
Joe Riley Presents: The Mower
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The mower stalled, twice... Joe Riley, teacher and poet of no great renown, is a lifelong lover of Larkin. In this series he attempts to read some of...
Ann Thwaite
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Writer Ann Thwaite has a long involvement with the society and with Philip Larkin himself. Ann married Anthony Thwaite when they were both young Oxf...
Celebrating The Philip Larkin Society Conference 2024
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is all about the 2 PLS conference events that took place on 13-15th March 2024 at the University of Hull. Professor Douglas Bell, now b...
Rosie Millard OBE
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are joined by our society President, Rosie Millard. Rosie came to Hull as an undergraduate while Larkin was still librarian at the university...
Zachary Leader and Daniel Vince- Larkin and Wain, the post-war English novel
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Zachary Leader is Emeritus Professor of English Literature at the University of Roehampton. He grew up in California but has lived in Britain for ...
Philip Larkin Society Pub Quiz 2/12/23
16 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Philip Larkin Society always mark the 2nd of December which is the anniversary of Philip Larkin’s death in 1985. In 2022 we marked the date wit...
Chris Sewart and Phil Pullen
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk to Beverley based poet Chris Sewart in his second appearance on Tiny in All That Air, and Phil Pullen, trustee of the PLS, who...
Larkin the Librarian
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was researched and planned by PLS Trustees Julian Henry and Dr Chris Fletcher, Keeper of Special Collections at the Bodleian Library, Oxf...
'Philip Larkin: Funny Man' by John White (2010)
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This talk was given to the Philip Larkin Society in 2010 by Emeritus Reader of American History at the University of Hull, John White. John White is...
Philip Larkin and Thomas Hardy
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Philip Larkin was just five years old when Hardy died in 1928, but this English poet and novelist was going to have a profound influence on Larkin’s...
Winifred Dawson reading 'Love and Larkin'.
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This talk was given to the PLS in 2001 by Winifred Dawson. Winifred was born in London, but educated in Belfast which is where she met Larkin when th...
Alan Plater- By The Tide of Humber I Walked Among Poets (talk given to the PLS 28/11/98)
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode features a writer who would be familiar not only to Hull residents but also to keen telly watchers, radio listeners and theatre goers a...
Larkin in Objects, Objects in Larkin: Clarissa Hard and Francesca Gardner
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
At the time of recording this podcast we received the sad news that our founding chairman Professor Eddie Dawes had passed away on the 3rd March 2023 ...
Novelist Anne Fine 'Philip Larkin- A Personal View'.
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anne Fine gave our Distinguished Guest Lecture at the PLS AGM in 2004 and here we reproduce her talk in its entirety. Anne muses on how she discovered...
Review of 2022 with Larkin100 trustees Graham Chesters, Phil Pullen and Vicky Foster - December 2022
31 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode welcomes three Larkin100 trustees to look back on 2022; Graham Chesters, Phil Pullen, and teacher, writer and poet Vicky Foster who has a...
Hugh Odling-Smee & Philip Pullen (November 2022)
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode features Belfast arts manager Hugh Odling- Smee and PLS trustee Philip Pullen who, as part of his centenary lecture tour, took part in th...
Daniel Vince (October 2022)
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Vince joined the PLS board of trustees earlier this year and is currently studying for a Masters by research on the post-war novel at the Unive...
Sam Perry (September 2022)
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Sam Perry teaches English Literature at the University of Hull, where he is a member of the Philip Larkin Centre for Poetry & Creative Writ...
Larkin 100 (August 2022)
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to a very special episode of Tiny In All That Air, celebrating Philip Larkin's 100th birthday. This episode has been made with the generous he...
The Larkin Family (June 2022)
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the King Henry VIII School, Coventry takeover! Led by the school's Librarian and Archivist Helen Cooper, and introduced by former Head of Engl...
Kelvin Everest and Dr Jane Bluett discuss Monica Jones (May 2022)
07 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Lyn talks to Emeritus AC Bradley Professor of Modern Literature at Liverpool University Kelvin Everest and writer, lecturer and poet ...
Deb Fisher and Triona Adams (Barbara Pym Society)
15 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Lyn talks to Deb Fisher, Chair of the Barbara Pym Society and writer and actor Triona Adams, also a member of the Barbara Pym Society...
John Robins, Robin Allender and Thomas Gordon.
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Lyn is joined by writer, comedian and BBC radio presenter John Robins, PLS Treasurer Thomas Gordon and writer and musician Robin Alle...
Dr James Underwood
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Lyn talks to Dr James Underwood, Senior Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Huddersfield and Deputy Directo...
Round Table with Philip Pullen & Rachael Galletly
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, PLS trustee and Larkin100 Chair Philip Pullen and PLS trustee and merchandise officer Rachael Galletly join Lyn to reflect back on 20...
Horror Larkin with Joe James & Alex Howard
15 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Joe James from the Right In The Schoolies podcast and PLS Trustee Alex Howard talk to Lyn about their definitions of horror and where...
Larkin's 99th Birthday special (part 2)
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Society is looking forward to the Centenary celebrations next year, but we wanted to mark what would have been Larkin's 99th birthday this year by...
Larkin's 99th Birthday special (part 1)
09 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Society is looking forward to the Centenary celebrations next year, but we wanted to mark what would have been Larkin's 99th birthday this year by...
Honorary Vice-Presidents - Rosie Millard, Martin Jennings and David Quantick
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Philip Larkin Society has a formal structure which helps us to run effectively. This has allowed us to appoint a President (Anthony Thwaite 1930-2...
The Young Larkin Academics
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Larkin has a rather curious place in the academic world- a little bit on the edge of things (maybe that’s how he would have liked it?). Lyn chats to...
For Sidney Bechet
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Philip Larkin was not just a poet, he was also a jazz journalist. His collected articles can be found in All What Jazz: A Record Diary 1961–1971. (F...
Professor Zachary Leader
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Zachary Leader is Professor of English Literature at the University of Roehampton. He grew up in California but has lived in Britain for ove...
Phil Pullen and Rachael Galletly
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Phil Pullen (Larkin researcher and chair of Larkin100) and Rachael Galletly (PLS Trustee) join us to discuss Larkin poems that are either about or are...
Greg Morse (writer and railway historian)
19 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The second of our two podcasts with a John Betjeman focus, our guest is writer and railway historian Greg Morse. Topics include Betjeman and Larkin’...
Anne O'Neill and Julian Henry
22 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Anne O'Neill and Julian Henry are newer members of the Philip Larkin Society team and many people will have already been feeling the benefit of their ...
Reflection on the Larkin year, 2020
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Lyn and Rachael look back on the events of 2020 in the PLS world. This episode also includes contributions from Professor Graham Chesters (PLS Chair),...
Jonathan Smith (novelist, playwright and teacher)
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Novelist, playwright and teacher Jonathan Smith has written two plays about Poet Laureate John Betjeman (1906-1984), Mr Betjeman's Class, an...
Professor Graham Chesters (the new Chair of the Philip Larkin Society)
16 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Graham Chesters, the new Chair of the Philip Larkin Society, joins us to talk about how came to Hull University, inadvertently following the...
David Quantick (writer and broadcaster)
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest on this episode is David Quantick - journalist, essayist, writer of television shows Veep and The Thick Of It, horror novel All My Colours (...
Wes Finch, Sophie Lewis, Esther Johnson & Chris Sewart
12 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode has four contributors, all of whom have very different connections to Philip Larkin. Wes Finch from The Mechanicals Band performs h...
Rachael Galletly (Merchandise Officer)
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Lyn and Rachael have been friends for over twenty years. In this episode, they discuss their shared enthusiasm for all things Larkin. Larkin poe...
Chris Walsh (novelist)
24 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Walsh is a novelist who now lives in Kent, and who, in common with Larkin, is also a poet and photographer. In this episode, Chris talks about h...
‘Larkin in Lockdown’ with Kyra Piperides Jaques
09 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This ‘Larkin in Lockdown’ episode was recorded specially to look at Larkin in the context of Covid-19 and we would like to send out thoughts out t...
Kieron Winn (poet and teacher) (part 2)
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the second part of our conversation with Kieron Winn, we discuss Faith Healing and ‘coinage’ of all different kinds in Larkin, This Be The Vers...
Kieron Winn (poet and teacher) (part 1)
09 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kieron Winn is a widely published poet and teacher whose debut collection The Mortal Man (2015) was glowingly reviewed by both Clive James and Melvyn ...
Philip Pullen (writer and researcher)
27 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we speak to Philip Larkin Society trustee, Philip Pullen, a writer and researcher who is also the society's Media and Publicity Office...
James Booth (Larkin expert and biographer) (part 3)
17 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this third and final part of our in-depth conversation with James Booth, he tells us about his own books on the poet, Larkin's early schoolgirl poe...
Wes Finch (songwriter & musician)
24 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Songwriter and musician Wes Finch from The Mechanicals Band joins us to discuss Larkin and to tell us about ‘THE RIGHTEOUS JAZZ’ – a new Larkin-...
James Booth (Larkin expert and biographer) (part 2)
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this second part of our conversation with James Booth, he talks about Larkin's development as a writer, takes a closer look at 'The Old Fools' and ...
James Booth (Larkin expert and biographer) (part 1)
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
James Booth is the Philip Larkin Society's Literary Adviser & Co-Editor of About Larkin, the society's journal. He has published two books on...
Edwin Dawes (Chairman of the Philip Larkin Society)
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In our first full episode, we talk to Edwin (Eddie) Dawes, chairman of the Philip Larkin Society and former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of H...
Series preview with Kyra Piperides Jaques
06 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this introductory episode, we talk to Kyra Piperides Jaques about her involvement in the Philip Larkin Society and look ahead to what you can expec...