Bard of Bath

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The Bard of Bath is the winner of an annual competition to find Bath's best poet, singer or storyteller. The Bard uses the title to develop artistic projects in the area and leads evening bardic walks around the city.

The title resurrects an Iron-Age Celtic Druid tradition where Druids were the law-makers, judges and ceremonial leaders, Ovates were mediums, healers and prophets and Bards were poets, musicians and history-keepers. All of them held high status and a place in mystical/religious circles.

The current and 12th Bard of Bath is Thommie Gillow.

[edit] Winners

• Tim Sebastion Woodman, 1996-97
• Richard Carder, 1997-8
• Kevan Manwaring, 1998-9
• Olivia Hicks, 1999-2000
• Julian Landau, 2000-1
• Brendan Georgeson, 2001-2
• Mark Lindsey Earley, 2002-3
• Helen Moore, 2003-4
• Jordan Ashley Hill 2004-5
• Mo the People’s Nun, 2005-6
• Ash Mandrake, 2006-2007
• Thommie Gillow, 2007-2008