A poet who is one of the people taking part in a new Netflix documentary will feature at the Stretched Lips poetry with attitude event in Cliftonville this weekend.
The third session taking place at regular venue The Waste Land bar – at The Libertines owned Albion Rooms in Cliftonville – will include a set from Londoner Mark Cleasey.
Mark is currently filmed for the Netflix documentary about the 1999 nail bombings in London which claimed three lives and caused dozens of injuries.
Bombs went off in Soho, Brixton and Brick Lane in April and May 1999. They were planted by racist and homophobe David Copeland who was targeting multi-racial and gay/transgender communities.
In June 2000 Copeland was given six life sentences for his horrific crimes.
Mark and his friends were the ones who discovered the Brixton bomb.
The roofer and poet from Camden Town said: “Me and my mates were doing a bit of street trading at the time.
“Copeland put his bag next to our stall. My mate picked it up and thought it was ours with CDs in it. Then I opened it and started shouting ‘it’s a bomb’ No-one was listening, they all thought I was crazy.
“The bomb went off and I got hit in the leg with nails. When the police came they arrested us as they thought it was our bag. We went to Brixton police station and after being interviewed they released us all It was mad.”
Mark, whose son lives in Canterbury, is one of those talking about his memories for the Netflix documentary.
The 42=year-old has two poems for the poetry night, one about drug addiction and the second about Camden Town.
Other acts for Stretched Lips 3 punk poetry night on Sunday (January 26) include illustrator and wordsmith Clair Meyricks, David Matthews reading poetic prose from his best-selling book ‘Voices of The Windrush Generation,’ Jack Mythos and Tireak Nawezi, a 20 year old up and coming rapper/singer from Broadstairs.
There will also be a spot by Brixton resident Beadyman and South African poet and dementia carer Hayley King.
The event is hosted by Dean Stalham, from the Stretch charity, and Stefan Gambrill – aka the Neanderthal Bard- who will also take to the stage.
Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm through until 10pm. Entry is free.
The Albion Rooms is at 31 Eastern Esplanade, Margate. Check out the Margate Street Art exhibition by Chu while you are there.