On Wednesday 27 May 2026 a ‘Write About Wigan’ poetry anthology, compiled by South East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership (South East Lancashire CRP), was launched with a special event at the Swan and Railway Hotel in Wigan.
The evening was hosted by writer Dave Morgan who helped to choose the selected poems and included words from CRP Chair Julie Levy as well as readings from several of the poets involved. The Swan and Railway provided a beautifully decorated backdrop to an intimate evening celebrating the love for and appreciation of Wigan, also featuring a buffet and music.
The anthology came about as the result of a competition launched by South East Lancashire CRP in July 2025, inviting the Wigan public to produce short poems about why they love the area, with winning entries to be displayed at Wigan North Western Station, following on from the success of the ‘Wonders of Wigan’ mural.
10 winning poems were selected and are now on display at the station (see the dedicated area of the South East Lancashire CRP website for more details), whilst the anthology features all the poems entered, complete with hand-drawn illustrations by artist Alison Timmins. It is an inclusive and fascinating literary exploration of why the Wigan area continues to have a profound impact and connects people across the community.
The anthology, funded by Avanti West Coast and Community Rail Network, was designed by Paul Neads at Flapjack Press and encompasses a nostalgic railway-style design, also reflected in some of the illustrations within.
