The 2021 Fenland Poet Laureate Awards took place on Friday October 22 in March Town Hall.

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 Sarah CloughFenland Poet Laureate 2021 Sarah Clough (Image: IAN CARTER)

MP Steve Barclay provided opening and closing remarks, emphasising the importance of poetry in the community.

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 Mike AldersonFenland Poet Laureate 2021 Mike Alderson (Image: IAN CARTER)

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.

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 (Image: IAN CARTER)

After Steve had provided opening remarks, host Elisabeth Sennitt Clough introduced John Lyons the adjudicator.

Originally from Trinidad, John now lives in the Fens.

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 Alex Corrin-TachibanaFenland Poet Laureate 2021 Alex Corrin-Tachibana (Image: IAN CARTER)

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.

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 Pete GreenFenland Poet Laureate 2021 Pete Green (Image: IAN 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.

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 Will BirkinFenland Poet Laureate 2021 Will Birkin (Image: IAN CARTER)

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.

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 Hilary ParryFenland Poet Laureate 2021 Hilary Parry (Image: IAN CARTER)

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.

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 Kim AllenFenland Poet Laureate 2021 Kim Allen (Image: IAN CARTER)

Keep an eye out on the Fenland Poet Laureate website for further information or email: fenlandpoetlaureateaward@gmail.com

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 (Image: IAN CARTER)

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 Kris SpencerFenland Poet Laureate 2021 Kris Spencer (Image: IAN CARTER)

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 Alison BinneyFenland Poet Laureate 2021 Alison Binney (Image: IAN CARTER)

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 (Image: IAN CARTER)

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 John Lyons and Sarah CloughFenland Poet Laureate 2021 John Lyons and Sarah Clough (Image: IAN CARTER)

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 (Image: IAN CARTER)

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 John Lyons and Hilary ParryFenland Poet Laureate 2021 John Lyons and Hilary Parry (Image: IAN CARTER)

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 John Lyons and Kim AllenFenland Poet Laureate 2021 John Lyons and Kim Allen (Image: IAN CARTER)

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021: MP Steve BarclayFenland Poet Laureate 2021: MP Steve Barclay (Image: IAN CARTER)

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021: MP Steve BarclayFenland Poet Laureate 2021: MP Steve Barclay (Image: IAN CARTER)

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021Fenland Poet Laureate 2021 (Image: IAN CARTER)

Wisbech Standard: Fenland Poet Laureate 2021: Elizabeth Sennit CloughFenland Poet Laureate 2021: Elizabeth Sennit Clough (Image: IAN CARTER)