The Good Ship Albion

Having  had  literally  hundreds  of  verses  printed  in  various  publications,  been  on  radio  and  television,  received  a  postcard  of  acknowledgement  from  Liverpool  born  poet  Brian  Patten  (of  Mersey  Sound  fame)  I  replied  to  an  advert  on  behalf  of  a  17  year  old  rocker,  Pete  Doherty,  who  asked   for  poems,  lyrics  and  ideas  for  songs  for  his  then  unnamed  and  unknown  band.  I  asked -  in  return -  that  they  sing  my  first  name  in  a  song (an  unauthorised  biography  on  Pete  is  close  to  verifying  this).  I  was  W.H.  Smith's  poet   in  residence  (York)  in  2003.  The  poetry  editor for  Teesside's  Evening  Gazette  referred  to  me  as  the  Syd  Barett  of  poetry. In the late 80's early 90's I published a wide range of poetry chapbooks under the Busy Beever imprint and produced Saltburn Scene and a range of poetry broadsheets in Saltburn, York and Pattya.

Note - My first poems were published in Cleveland's (UK) pioneering poetry magazine OUTLET from 1986, initiated by fellow poet and songwriter - Trev Teasdel. I was also published by the Write Around festival (an off spin of Outlet). In 1990 the Outlet Team made a short TV programme about the pioneering work in the Teesvalley - and I was in the poetry audience in the film. You view the Outlet film HERE and learn how grassroots poets pioneered a literary movement in the Tees Valley area of the UK. It features Trev Teasdel / Terry Lawson and Andy Croft and other early pioneering writers in the area.

What the Critics Have Said of my Poems, Plays and Books -

 
Middlesbrough Evening Gazette

Former Boulby Potash Miner and Redcar British Steel Coking Oven labourer who left school at 15 without any educational qualifications.

Margaret Weir - The Phoenix Poetry Group

Mark - The angry-young-romantic-cynic

Geoff Lowe - Psuchopoetica - University of Hull

Some Gems

Andy Bruce - Peace and Freedom

This is the kind of gear I like, something rebellious, yet artistic, different and daring. It takes courage to publish work such as this. Perspicacious, and will certainly make you think.

The Library - University College London

The Librarian has much pleasure in thanking you on behalf of the Library Committee for your kind gift to the college Library - 7 poetry pamphlets.

Geoff Stevens - Purple Patch

Mark's interest appears solely to get his message over.

Andy Bruce - Peace and Freedom

It seems Mark can stand back and observe things in a detached way. Once tuned into his wavelength I began to see the depth.

Andy Robson - Krax

I gather that like Dylan Thomas if you've had a good sale you get drunk at the end of the day! There's a playfulness in your work seldom found in poetry today. (Mark used to sell his early books for 50p or half pint of larger!)

Kevin Troop - The Third Half

Keep up YOUR good work!

Penguin Books Ltd.

Thank you for submitting your work for consideration. Unfortunately, Penguin / Viking do not publish 'unsolicited poetry'

Christa Van Realte - The Studio - North Shields

My reaction to your sketch - Walls - was that it was an ace sketch - very funny and very accurate in a warped sort of way. Alternative Medicine was a bit too clever for its own good. Send them to the comedy sketch type programmes.

Julian Dutton (Script Writer - Weekending - London

Flair for comedy dialogue.

Kathleen MacReery - Newcastle - Cleveland Theatre Company Dramatist.

A knack for satire

BBC Light Entertainment - London

Keep it up!

Trev Teasdel - Outlet Magazine 1988

You have won first prize in the first Outlet Poetry competition and you will be featured in both Outlet and Cleveland Scene.

Trev Teasdel - Outlet Magazine 1990

Being only a short programme we were unfortunately unable to feature you the BBC Open Space Programme - Breaking the Ice about Outlet and Write Around on this occasion Mark but you are invited to be in the poetry audience when they film and will be considered if there is a follow on.

Commisioned alongside other Cleveland poets to produce a poem for the follow on - a BBC 2 Documentary on Cleveland Poetry. Wrote Cleve the Land.

Prince Charles

Message of best wishes for work on the E.T. Charity Magazine.

Brian Patten - Liverpool Poet

Best wishes. I really hope things go well for you and yur work. (One of Mark's books was a selection suggested by Brian Patten.)

New Hope International

Jester Years 11 - some interesting and deep thoughts in this booklet, worth dipping into. This is mark's 30th booklet and if you turnout so many poems you should have just a few good ones. Too often nowadays people think that quantity is quality. Chuck out the crap, Mark and tidy up the act.

Krax - Leeds

Dead Beat - Whatever I may be taken down and used in evidence. Simple, jingle-like rhymes that are quite philospophical at the end of the day. An ocassional longer piece doesn't work so he just throws in a four line witticism and carries on. Recalls the earlier efforts of Liverpool poets, the more inebriated Robert Burns and Dave (where is he now?) Ward. So many to choose form. But you won't be disappointed with this selection.

IOTA -Chesterfiled

Pyrate Potshots - is principally about love, ranging from Profumo to ballroom romance, but also briefly embraces like and its outcasts and is stongly favoured by the sea. He poems are short and vary between what might be called children's songs to true reflections. "Rum goings on / brought down / a government. / Prufumo perfume / rides still the air. / "We're all flesh / said the ram / made a scapegoat,/ soon to be dust.../ soon to be dust." There is humour too particualry in thesecond of the two playlets that complement the 18 poems. Mark Beevers is prolific - this is his 31st collection since summer 1988 - but his poems have an instantaneous feel to them which is pleasing and refreshing. For this price nobody could complain.

Ivor Cutler (Poet)

Honest - if nothing else.

John Howard - Vigil

Can't keep up with your output!! - Various Beeverlets to review in next issue.

Geoff Lowe - Psychopoetica

Keep churning them out Mark

Andy Croft - Noticeboard - Evening Gazette - Middlesbrough

One of the most prolific poets in the area.

Global Tapestry

Beevers is a pop poet. A relaxed literary sniper who gunslings with journalistic direct simplicty.

Colin Mulligan - 2nd Rapture - Hull

I enjoyed Both Barels Blazing very much. Great to hear you are still writing strongly.

Poetry Editor - Ryde School - Isle of Wight

I can see how Brian Patten would like your epigramic style.

John Howard Vigil Magazine - Gillingham

A brave phenomenon from Cleveland. The poetry is sharp and entertaining at its best and never dull.

Margaret Pain IOTA - Chesterfiled

Varies between jingles - sometimes with rather odd rhymes - and quite unsophisticated and witty pieces, some of which might be claimed as being just crisply arranged prose - but it often works.

Andy Robson - Krax Magazine

A new keen writer in the romantic vein. Has mastered the art of the poem quite well in a range between birthday card verse and cartoon strip pithy comment. Aname to watch out for if he doesn't burn himself up too quickly. Short sweet and simple stuff for fast consumption that won't make you fat.

Global Tapestry

Poetry Partisan - More bardic observations. Remembering  Flower Power turning out "Plastic / as the system/ it tried to change"

Ball and Chain - "God is my assassin" Beeevers makes some good solo hits. "Speak of freedom / and be applauded;/ speak freely / and be condemened"

Chryme - Sometimes sentimental; often (as in the cross-dressng 'Reflection - very clever. "Whores / like soldiers/ arnt paid to think "

Peace and Freedom - Hartlepool

I enjoyed this varied collection of poetry I particualrly liked "Dirty Work" - a poem about politians, and very true. Notable poems are "Questions" "London" "God is my Assassin" and "Return Journey".

Krax Magazine - Leeds

Dark Angel - Short witty pithy poems with more than a hint of cheekiness. I should think the Dark Angel of the title is a pint of Guiness more than anything else. Some of the work deserves better than this swift cheap production. Full of smile. Just what we need. Buy one - it's good for you and won't hurt.

The Third Half - Stamford Lincs

Black Sheep / Death is my Lady / Dark angel / Heathen Heart - all worthy efforts (books) from Mark Beevers.

IOTA - Chesterfield

A Lone Wolf's Whistle - Mark Beevers presents his 13th publication. I liked the title poem's last verse - "There's room for three / my pillow is wide / you've met Jekyll / there meet Hyde" Wizards and Warlocks again - "You might have been the magic / in a warlock's spell / you might have been the wish / froma wishing well" A very true piece piece refers to people enjoying a booklet yet saying "But who reads poetry anyway" I empathize with his "The Worry" - "I just can't go to sleep / too busy counting sheep"

AndyCroft - Noticeboard - Evening Gazette - Middlesbrough

Unmasked - Mark Beevers, one of the most prolific poets in the area has just published - himself - his 22nd book of poetry.