Walk in his footsteps: Philip Larkin trail launched

Hull Daily Mail, 21 April, 2011

Fans of Philip Larkin will be able to walk in his footsteps after a special new trail was unveiled.

The poet's publisher Jean Hartley unveiled one of 25 new signs at landmarks close to his heart.
Each sign contains poetry extracts and information about Larkin's life.
Mrs Hartley unveiled the first sign on the trail at the Royal Hotel in Paragon Interchange.

She said: "If Larkin was alive today, I think he would be delighted with the trail because he wanted to be remembered for his poems.
"I am sure the trail will make Larkin's work accessible, not only to people already familiar with his poems, but to people who wouldn't have heard of him before.
"They might stop at one of the signs and think 'Who is this man?', which of course will be a very good thing."
Mrs Hartley published Larkin's collection of poems, The Less Deceived, from a house in Hessle, which is now one of the landmarks on the trail.
She also published a book, Philip Larkin's Hull And East Yorkshire, which featured a tour around the region, 15 years ago. This book was used as the basis for the new trail.
She said: "The new trail is very similar.
"In my book, the entries are very detailed, but the trail includes signs that have some of his work printed on them."

The trail is split into three parts – Larkin's Here In The City Centre, Larkin's Here Beyond The City Centre and Larkin's Elsewhere in parts of the East Riding.
Sites include Spurn Point, which he wrote about in his poems; Newland Avenue, where he liked to shop; and the University Of Hull, where he worked as a librarian.
Trail leaflets can be collected from tourist information centres or downloaded from www.thelarkintrail.co.uk