The 2021 Fenland Poet Laureate Awards took place on Friday October 22 in March Town Hall.
MP Steve Barclay provided opening and closing remarks, emphasising the importance of poetry in the community.
As a means of expression, Steve said poetry can have a powerful impact, citing the poetry of WWI poet Wilfred Owen as an example of how the form can resonate so deeply.
After Steve had provided opening remarks, host Elisabeth Sennitt Clough introduced John Lyons the adjudicator.
Originally from Trinidad, John now lives in the Fens.
The children’s prizes were presented first, with John awarding first place to Layla Gull, second place to Sarah Clough and third place to Jasmin Carter.
Before being sent to John, all entries were number-coded for anonymity.
In the adults’ competition, first place went to Kim Allen, second place to Hilary Parry and third place to Anne Clements.
The winner and 2021 Fenland Poet Laureate, Kim Allen, works in Wisbech for the NHS as a clinical psychiatrist.
After the interval, nine poets read their work from the Fenland Poetry Journal, a poetry and arts magazine edited by Elisabeth Sennitt Clough.
Also in attendance was Ray Jack, deputy mayor of March, and Tim Chapman, a teacher at Wisbech Grammar School, from where the children’s winning entries came.
Next year’s Fenland Poet Laureate Competition will open for entries in the New Year.
Keep an eye out on the Fenland Poet Laureate website for further information or email: fenlandpoetlaureateaward@gmail.com
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