IT was a packed study at Cyprus Well, the home of Charles Causley, for a memoir and an appreciation from Barry Newport on Saturday, who had a friendship with Causley for around 28 years.

Dr Newport, a retired GP from Wokingham, with a passion for books and literature, published an article and a select bibliography in Causley at Seventy (1987).

He met Causley through a second hand bookseller, who knew of Dr Newport's appreciation for Causley's poetry.

After the bookseller moved to Angel Hill, Dr Newport was invited along to the cinema with Causley, where the three watched The Dirty Dozen.

Dr Newport said Causley suggested he could look him up and meet him, if he wished to do so, and Dr Newport took him up on the offer on one of his spring holidays in Cornwall, first meeting him at his home in 1976.

The friendship continued, with visits to Launceston and meeting Causley at many readings and events, and Dr Newport told the audience he felt 'grateful' as a doctor to have been able to attend so many readings.

Alluding to Causley as a somewhat private man, he said: "I never questioned Charles about his poetry. He was not a gossiper about the people he knew."

He said he would have to plan his visits to Causley's home in advance, but said: "Once you crossed his threshold you were made to feel welcome as if your visit was never in doubt."

He spoke about his fondest memories, including when Causley became an Honoured Burgess of Launceston in 1983, which was attended by 300 people.

He summarised: "Causley's poetry was for us all, but his heart was in his own town with his own people."

Dr Newport told the Post: "This is the first time I have spoken at a Causley festival."

He said he was 'delighted' to be able to share his memories at Cyprus Well, adding: "It's much more of an intimate atmosphere.

"It's about memories and appreciation of what appeals to me about his work. It's about reminiscences of Charles and all the various ways I met him over a period of about 28 years."

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.