Barbara Woollett

Barbara has lived in Hampshire all her life. Now in her eighties she recalls with gratitude the two English teachers from her secondary school (1949-1953) who encouraged her to study a wide variety of authors and poets.

Aged 13, inspired by the use of metre and rhyme, she submitted her first poem, entitled "My Mother" to the school magazine.

In later years, when a busy wife and mother herself, she developed a less structured style. Many of her poems depict aspects of life and faith with poignancy and humour.

She is a member of the Jubilate Group. She has written several hymn texts, Psalm versions and other verses.

Publications featuring her work include 'Church Family Worship' (1988); 'Come, Rejoice' (1989); 'Songs from the Psalms' (1990); 'Psalms for Today' (1990) which has four of her paraphrases; 'Let's Praise 2' (1994); 'Sing Glory' (1999); and 'Praise!' (2000).

Appearing in several books are her versions of Psalm 13, 'How long, O Lord, will your forget an answer to my prayer'; and Psalm 84, 'How lovely is your dwelling-place, O Lord most high'. Among North American hymnals, 'The Worshiping Church' (1990) has three of her texts and 'Worship and Rejoice' (2001) has two, all of these from the Psalms.