PEOPLE from a historic industrial town are being invited to attend an evening of entertainment at an innovative pudding club.
The event will celebrate the life of ' Belper Joe' – a quirky Derby newspaper vendor in the 18th century – with a series of poems from former Derbyshire Poet Laureate Matt Black.
Belper Joe's Pudding Club will take place on Saturday, September 13, at No. 28 in Belper.
Guests are invited to each bring a pudding with them that can be shared out after the main meal, inspired by similar clubs from the late 1700s.
Matt Black, who was Derbyshire Poet Laureate from 2011 to 2013, will be performing his works, which are based on the real-life character. He thinks his audience will be educated as well as entertained.
The 57-year-old, of Sheffield, said: "Hopefully it will encourage people to talk about the history of Belper and enjoy lots of puddings.
"It would be nice to inspire a further day where people will dress up all like Belper Joe and celebrate the history out on the street. It would be great to get a procession of them together."
Joe was known as a harmless simpleton among the town's people.
He began labouring for George Benson Strutt, who ran the town's mills. Joe had difficulty wheeling a barrow across a plank and a stonemason called Hallam told him it was because the wheelbarrow couldn't see where it was going.
He told Joe to go to the butchers and buy a pair of sheep's eyes to stick on the front, which Joe did without question.
He was mocked for this and quickly became a well-known figure around the town, as well as being known for his snappy dressing.
This was what inspired Crown Derby's figurines, which were made in the 19th century.
Mr Black owns one of the rare, intricately-designed figurines and three of them will be brought together at the event.
He said: "The poems are semi-fictitious. They put Belper Joe in fictional situations."
These tales range from eating at the Derby Pudding Club to having afternoon tea with author Mary Shelley and giving her the idea for her Frankenstein novel.
The event will also include live music from Julian Butt and Mike Smith of Mills and Chimneys.
No. 28's hall manager, Pippa Mansel, said: "It will be light-hearted with a literary undertone. Anyone is welcome."
There will also be an exhibition about Belper Market Place at the hall.
