Charles Fisher (poet)
Encyclopedia
Charles Fisher was a British (Welsh
) journalist, writer
, poet
and adventurer. Charles was the last surviving member of the Kardomah group
, a literary and artistic circle in Swansea circa 1930, which included Dylan Thomas
, Vernon Watkins
and Daniel Jones
.
Fisher was educated at the Bishop Gore School
, Swansea, where he acted in plays with the young Dylan Thomas. He left school to become a journalist, and during World War II
was an operative for British Intelligence
.
After the War Fisher wrote for Reuters
, the Swansea Evening Post and the BBC. He was briefly married to Isabel Elana Alonzo. In 1953 he emigrated to Canada
, where he became a Hansard reporter in the Canadian House of Commons
. In 1963 he married Jane Edwards, with whom he had one daughter, Caitlin.
Charles had a home on Elgin Street, in Ottawa, Canada, famous in the 1960s and 70s for its vibrant company, and after retirement, lived in Almonte, Ontario
.
He wrote the book of poems, The Locust Years. Just before his death, he completed his memoir Adios Granada, an account of living with the Gypsies in Sacremonte in Spain in the 1950s and 1960s. He is survived by his daughter Caitlin.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
) journalist, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and adventurer. Charles was the last surviving member of the Kardomah group
Kardomah group
The Kardomah Gang,The Kardomah Boys, or Kardomah Group is the name given to the group of bohemian friends – various artists, musicians, poets and writers – who frequented the Kardomah Café in Castle Street, Swansea, Wales, in the 1930s...
, a literary and artistic circle in Swansea circa 1930, which included Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
, Vernon Watkins
Vernon Watkins
Vernon Phillips Watkins , was a British poet, and a translator and painter. He was a close friend of Dylan Thomas, who described him as "the most profound and greatly accomplished Welshman writing poems in English"....
and Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones (composer)
Daniel Jenkyn Jones OBE was a composer of classical music, who worked in Britain. He used both serial and tonal techniques...
.
Fisher was educated at the Bishop Gore School
Bishop Gore School
The Bishop Gore School is a secondary school in Swansea in south Wales, founded on 14 September 1682 by Hugh Gore , Bishop of Waterford and Lismore...
, Swansea, where he acted in plays with the young Dylan Thomas. He left school to become a journalist, and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was an operative for British Intelligence
Secret Intelligence Service
The Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...
.
After the War Fisher wrote for Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
, the Swansea Evening Post and the BBC. He was briefly married to Isabel Elana Alonzo. In 1953 he emigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he became a Hansard reporter in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
. In 1963 he married Jane Edwards, with whom he had one daughter, Caitlin.
Charles had a home on Elgin Street, in Ottawa, Canada, famous in the 1960s and 70s for its vibrant company, and after retirement, lived in Almonte, Ontario
Almonte, Ontario
Almonte is a Canadian exurb and former mill town located in Lanark County, in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada. Formerly a separate municipality, Almonte is now a ward of the town of Mississippi Mills, which was created on January 1, 1998 by the merging of Almonte with Ramsay and...
.
He wrote the book of poems, The Locust Years. Just before his death, he completed his memoir Adios Granada, an account of living with the Gypsies in Sacremonte in Spain in the 1950s and 1960s. He is survived by his daughter Caitlin.
External links
- BBC reports on Fisher address on the 50th anniversary of Dylan Thomas' death http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3255523.stm
- Guardian Obituary http://books.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,,1704707,00.html