My name is Susan Lacey, local poet and below is all about me.
Early life
My love of words and music has always been an inspiration to myself and to my friends and family. My childhood experiences of music were in sharing my talent for singing, verse speaking and playing the piano, but I was also developing a love of performance and won many competitions and awards for these.
I entered many Music Festivals across the Chilterns, winning three silver cups and a pile of certificates for first and second places for vocal solos, piano solos and duets. Seven Piano Exams were passed before my father died when I was 18 years old.
I have also had acting experience at Secondary School, as the leading lady in two school plays.
Recent projects
I live in the Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire with my family. When my three children became 'all grown up', I began to dedicate more time to writing and I started out on my second career as a local poet!
I have been inspired to write about the places and experiences of local life, from my roots in Buckinghamshire, which are very close to my heart. Much of my poetry has been on display in these places. For example, my poem entitled "Into the Woods " was displayed in the Aylesbury Museum Exhibition, of the same name, which celebrated Buckinghamshire's Woodland.
My poetry has been published in various magazines and anthologies and on websites. I have been the Head Judge in a local 'Fairtrade' poetry competition, and as part of celebrating Chesham as a Fairtrade Town, I performed my poetry at a Fashion and Fairtrade Show at the Elgiva Hall in March 2010.
Live performances
I have also combined my talents with a dear friend to form "Diversify". Together, we regularly perform my poetry and have an increasingly busy schedule!
We were kindly invited to perform my poetry to the Chelsea Pensioners in London.
I perform on an Individual basis or as "Diversify" to numerous Townswomen's Guilds, WI's and many local clubs and churches. I have even performed my poetry as part of the launch to open a local Starbucks!
I have been writing for many years and have reached over a thousand poems on most subjects and aspects of daily life. Most of my poems are rhyming in the ballad form as these come across better when performed to an audience. I wear funny hats and costume with a few props thrown in to create the right feeling to be conveyed to those watching.
Everywhere I have entertained, everyone has commented on how different this performance is and how it makes a pleasant change!!
My aim is always to bring a time of relaxation, pleasure and of course, a lot of laughter thrown in, to all the groups and organisations that I am involved with, whether by myself or Diversify.
Other work
On a different 'note', I also teach the piano in a general rudiments way and use the John Thompson Course which can be adapted or changed to suit the pupil. This has become more of a sideline since taking up my new career, but all of my pupils mean a great deal to me as do all of those I have taught in the past.
I do write my own music and songs but am not yet published in this area and I am working on a poetry book which I hope to bring out sometime in the near future.