'As a newbie to the world of David Jones, I could not have guessed what a wonderful community of scholars I was about to meet.'

'It was an outstanding conference, indeed perhaps the best I have ever attended.  I loved the mix of events, the films, Bryan's exhibition – especially as he engaged York students in setting it up, the films of David Jones, the unforgettable performance by Opus Anglicanum. It was so good that there was plenty of time for discussion in the panels and that the timetable was adhered to ....  Also admirable that the coffee breaks were generous, and the food and drink so easily accessible and seemingly inexhaustible.'

'One thing I would single out though as being a particularly great achievement was the composition of the panels and the decision to have all the papers one after the other and the discussion afterwards. In all the sessions I attended, this worked outstandingly well, because the papers really did speak to one another. I felt as if the discussion part of the panel sessions was consequently much deeper and more thought-provoking than is the case when questions are asked after each paper.'

'The generally diverse and yet committed community . . . provided a dynamic that was both passionate and disciplined.'

'… the discussions, questions and comments after all three papers worked well, and I’m sure has sent us back to re-read and re-consider: the mark of a good conference. I learned many new things which will keep bubbling up whenever I open whichever battered copy of David Jones comes to hand.'

Tom Dilworth delivering 'David Jones, the Great War and In Parenthesis,' 21 July, Bowland Auditorium.

'I think Tom’s incredible mixture of knowledge, erudition, passion, sensitivity  and thoughtfulness was an inspiration on many levels - as academic as teacher as poetic concerned human being. However it was the cumulative collective collaborative sense of shared interest that was the primary energy of the conference. Located, humane, deeply thoughtful, spiritual, questioning, eclectic,  poetic, aesthetic  – DJ seems to still draw to himself kindred spirits.'

Paul Hills delivering '"The Good Bodily Image" and
​David Jones's Historical Imagination,' 22 July.

'I particularly valued . . . Paul Hills’s exemplary keynote, for its knowledge, style and enlightenment.'

Adam Schwartz delivering '"Getting Into History": The Great War and David Jones's Memory,' 23 July.

'My favourite moment from the conference was the last keynote session. I loved Professor Schwartz's thesis, and the discussion that ensued after his talk. . . .  It was an honour to watch so many perceptive minds in productive conversation.'

'What I appreciated most was the diversity of approaches you had managed to bring together, with films, and visual art, and the climax of Opus anglicanum.'

Above and below: Reception in the Norman Rea Gallery, 23 July, amidst the 'Landscape, Sign, Sacrament' Exhibition by Bryan Hawkins.

'The inclusion of Opus A[nglicanum], the films, the exhibition and the poetry really lifted this event above any other academic conference I've been to.'

Opus Anglicanum performing 'DAVID JONES: July 1916, the Battle of Mametz Wood from In Parenthesis,' in St. Wilfrid's Church, York, 22 July.

'I am not an academic . . . even so, I felt warmly welcomed, and I deeply appreciate the fact that there is room for non-academics at such gatherings. The warmth of the welcome ensured that those with less accomplishment in such a highly specialized field felt included amongst a crowd of very able and widely read scholars.'

Left to Right: Kathy Staudt, Hilary Davies and Rahul Gupta reading from their own poetry and translations at the Conference Dinner, 22 July.

I enjoyed a wonderful location …[and] the great food that made great accompaniment for the greater conversations.

'It was a delight from start to finish. I always relish the conversations above all.'

Also check out two fabulous blogposts about the conference from:
Kathleen Henderson Staudt: poetproph.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/back-from-wonderful-conference-on-david.html and Alex Assaly: alexmassaly.wordpress.com/2016/08/09/david-jones-dialogues-with-the-past/