University of Liverpool Acquires Complete Archive of Poet Roger McGough
The University of Liverpool has announced the acquisition of the entire archive of Roger McGough, one of Britain's most beloved and prolific poets. This significant collection comprises 40 large boxes of material, including notebooks, manuscripts, drafts, project files, journals, posters, letters, personal artworks, and travel diaries. The acquisition builds upon the university's existing holdings of McGough's personal papers up to 2007, now extending to cover his life and work through to the present day.
A Full Picture of a Prolific Career
University archivist Jo Klett emphasised that this comprehensive archive will provide "a full picture of Roger's entire working career". McGough, now 88, expressed his honour at the university's request, stating "Where else but Liverpool, really" in recognition of his deep connections to the city where he began his poetic journey.
The archive reveals fascinating insights into McGough's multifaceted career. He first gained prominence as a teacher who formed The Scaffold with Mike McCartney and John Gorman in the 1960s, achieving fame with their hit "Lily the Pink". McGough was also one of the three Liverpool poets featured in The Mersey Sound, alongside Brian Patten and Adrian Henri, which became one of the bestselling poetry anthologies of all time.
Cultural History and Literary Connections
The collection includes correspondence with numerous cultural figures, revealing McGough's wide-ranging connections. Letters from Victoria Wood, Eric Idle, Harold Wilson, Esther Rantzen, and Philip Larkin are among the treasures. McGough shared particularly fond memories of Larkin, who served as librarian at the University of Hull while McGough was a student there.
"He would say take no notice of what critics are going to say before I even knew there were going to be critics," McGough recalled. "He said: 'Ignore them, do what you do and go on doing it'. This is what I've tried to do in my own writing." Larkin later wrote to McGough with warm praise for his work.
Behind the Scenes of Cultural Milestones
The archive sheds light on McGough's involvement in significant cultural projects, including the Beatles' 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine. McGough was brought in to "Liverpudlianise" the script after numerous writers had failed to satisfy the Beatles. "By the time I was brought in, there had been 17 writers and the Beatles didn't like it," he explained. "It was too American."
Despite his contributions, American producers made clear he would receive no credit, a decision documented in correspondence within the archive. "These things happen," McGough reflected. "It didn't worry me at the time, but a credit would have meant more money. I'd be in LA now surrounded by models on a beach, not talking to you."
Personal Reflections and Artistic Treasures
McGough admitted that reviewing the archive stirred many emotions and memories, including forgotten projects like a 1976 Thames TV play he originally wanted to title Your Dinner Has Gone to the Hairdressers, I am in the Oven. "It was a great title but I had to change it to The Life Swappers," he recalled.
The collection includes hundreds of travel diaries documenting McGough's journeys worldwide. "What happened to me, where I went, what I read, what I wore, what I ate," he described. "A lot of it was quite boring, but a lot of it was quite interesting and funny." Artistic treasures include a brooding 1960s self-portrait and a 2005 portrait of McGough painted by Graham Kershaw.
Decluttering and Legacy
McGough joked about the decluttering benefits of the archive transfer, noting his house now feels significantly emptier. "If anyone wants to buy some old empty filing cabinets then get in touch ... through you," he quipped. His verse about aging - "It's a joy to be old. The dog dead and the car sold" - takes on new resonance with this archival homecoming.
The McGough archive joins nearly two miles of archives held by the University of Liverpool, including Europe's largest catalogued collection of science fiction material and the Cunard archive. The announcement was timed to celebrate World Poetry Day, highlighting the university's commitment to preserving literary heritage.
When asked for comment on the acquisition, McGough naturally turned to verse: "Seeking a suitable quote, I delved deep into my University of Liverpool archive. Unfortunately, without success! Will this do? 'Honoured and Excited?'" The archive ensures that future generations will have complete access to the work of a poet who has published over 100 books and hosted BBC Radio 4's Poetry Please for more than 25 years.
