008 - Roy McDonald • 1937–2018 🙌
"Roy personified community engagement, civic responsibility, and the power of the arts to build bonds and challenge injustice. London will miss him."
—
Tom Cull, London Poet Laureate
For Roy
With yesterday’s news about the passing of poet, busker and performer, Roy McDonald, London lost a local legend. If you’ve ever bumped into him reciting verse along Richmond Street over the last few decades, you’ll know the kindness and eccentricity he brought to the city. So, in honour of the man, here’s three easy ways to experience his legacy.
📗 Living: A London Journal
Roy's 1976 seven-day journal is a short book documenting a week of his life. It's a distinct perspective showcasing his deeply personal relationship to the city he called home. Rumour has it that local used bookstores have more than a few copies kicking around. Pick one up, absorb London through Roy’s eyes, and then pass it along to a friend.
📽️ Bagman: A Documentary
One of two short films about Roy worth watching, Bagman by Cory Downing places you in Roy’s shoes and gives you an intimate sense of who the man was. The other film, Roy by Josh Kish, is no longer available online, but if you find yourself able to view it somewhere, please let us know, so that we can share.
🗣️ Poetry: Featuring Roy McDonald
Roy’s poetry was best experienced on a Friday night in front of Joe Kool’s or part of Open Mic Poetry Night at Mykonos. Today, we’ve got our ears tuned to clips like these to keep his words resonating.
Next week: Mixing it up...
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Editors: Jon Clemens, Titus Ferguson, James Kingsley, Steve MacDouell, Kevin Van Lierop
Associate Editors & Localists: Brown and Dickson, Sameer Vasta, Rob Howell, Matthew Wilson
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