We are a mutually supportive group of enthusiastic poets who are committed to improving our writing skills and taking poetry into the local community. We have been meeting to encourage each other and share our work since 1999. In 2011 we became a stanza group of the Poetry Society, in order to reach more poets, benefit from a wider network of contacts and activities, and attract new members. Please see the guidelines for further information about the group.

Our annual programme includes twelve monthly meetings on the last Monday evening of the month at 7.30 p.m. join us on Zoom or in person at Oddfellows Hall, 270 High Street, Dorking RH4 1QT. The evening is divided into two parts:

The first hour includes a discussion about various aspects of poetry, or individual published poets, and is presented by one of the group members. Examples of past themes include: Haibun, Contemporary Women Poets, Leonard Cohen & Bob Dylan: Lyrics & poetry, Maitreyabandhu: Poetry as Spiritual Practice. We also invite guest poets to read from their own collections as well as offering a critique of our poems.
The second hour of our meeting is a workshop of four poems brought by members using guidelines for feedback.

Events such as the Sofa Poet and Poetry Pub are open to all - do join us.

The annual subscription is £20.

If you would like to join the group, or require further information, please contact the Secretary.

Meeting Notes

Public Events
Sofa Poet: Constructing as Expression – an evening with Robert Hampson In the latest of our annual guest poet events we're delighted to welcome Robert Hampson who will lead an evening of discussions around poetry, chance and boundaries, readings of his work, and an opportunity to create. We're excited to have Robert as our guest – a poet and academic, for many years a Professor (now Emeritus) at Royal Holloway. He was Visiting Professor at the University of Northumbria (2018-21) and Research Fellow at the Institute for English Studies, University of London (2019-23). He is a member of the Poetics Research Centre and the Centre for GeoHumanities at Royal Holloway. He is well known for his contributions to contemporary innovative poetry and the international study of Joseph Conrad. Please bring a pair of scissors and a couple of articles (a couple of columns/a page) from a magazine or newspaper... Monday 28^th July 2025 7:30pm to 9:30pm at Oddfellows Hall, Dorking, RH4 1QT. Doors Open at 7:15pm. Tickets £10.
Birdsong Helen Overell once again runs the traditional 'summer school' for Mole Valley Poets and guests with the theme this year being 'Birdsong'. Expect a warm welcome, poetic stimulation, writing exercises and sharing with supportive friends in the beautiful surroundings of the Quaker Meeting House, one of Dorking's hidden gems. You may even hear some Birdsong... Saturday 9^th August 2025 2pm to 4:30pm at Dorking Friends Meeting House (Butter Hill off South Street), Dorking, RH4 2LE. Tickets £10.