A COLLECTION of poems written by a Darlington nurse is to be launched at two events over the next month.

Mel McEvoy, 53, a palliative care nurse in Darlington for nearly 20 years, is releasing his first volume of poetry entitled “An Emptied Space.”

They were been written during his time as a nurse, but also draw on his experience as the son of Irish immigrants in a working class community, his time in religious life, as well as his work in end of life care.

Mr McEvoy said: “These poems are intended to help us deal with the inevitability of death, through showing the innate strength of the people who are facing it. I hope to have captured what we can all be taught about life from these people.”

The collection has been released by local publishers Mudfog, who specialise in promoting new Tees Valley writers.

Mr McEvoy will give readings of his work at The Forum Music Centre, in Darlington, on tomorrow (Thursday, November 29), with musical interludes from the Jazztones. Doors open at 6.45pm.

He will also be at the Centuria Building Small Lecture Theatre at Teesside University on Friday, December 14, at 6pm. Both events are free.