Ron's Poetic Injustice
Ron Finn had an article published in his local paper, the Ealing Gazette, on his entry to the Local Poem Competition 2010. You can click here or the banner above to view the article.
Daphne Eyes Poetry Prize
The Bedford edition Times & Citizen included an article on National Poetry Anthology 2010 winner Daphne Warrick.
Fame comes calling for author Edward
The Cambridgeshire Agenda recently wrote an article featuring Mr Call's author Edward Oliver.
Twenty-two year old Cambridge student Edward Oliver has won a major national competition with a novel for children, and his prize was to see his book published.
Edward is studing for a BA (Hons) Degree in Illustration at Cambridge School of Art and the book, Mr Call contains full colour illustrations by him. Could be the perfect stocking filler for the bookish child on your list...
To visit the Cambridgeshire Agenda website, click their logo above or to find out more about Mr Oliver click here.
It's Child's Play For Parents
Actress Lynda Bellingham and Peter Quinn launch charity book in conjunction with Barnardo'sParents are being urged by actress Lynda Bellingham to help raise money for Barnardo's. Lynda wants parents to submit funny stories about kids for a new book to be published by United Press, which helps to raise funds for Barnardo's.
"Barnardo's does a lot of great work and parents can help by submitting their funny stories for the book," explained Linda. She was at a Barnardo's family centre in Manchester to launch the appeal for submissions.
"We want parents to submit funny things they have heard children say," explained Lynda.
You can email entries to info@unitedpress.co.uk or post them to - Things Kids Say, United Press, Admail 3735, London EC1B 1JB. The book will feature hundreds of entries from all over the UK. It will be on sale at £5.99 and half of this will go to Barnardo's.
"I'm sure most parents have a funny story they can tell. And all the stories will help to raise cash for Barnardo's," said Managing Director of United Press, Peter Quinn."We’ve helped to raise over £150,000 for charities in the past five years, and we hope this is another of our successful charity projects."
Lynda has already made her contribution to the book. It was something she did when she was little - and it caused plenty of blushes for her mum.
"I was quite an outspoken child, and my mother warned me not to be rude to strangers. She said that if someone annoyed me, I should be polite - then afterwards I could say what I liked. Soon after this, someone stood on my foot on a crowded train and I said to him, very politely, and gently, 'That's quite alright, Sir.' Then I added, very angrily, 'You horrible man'!
Christine Is In The News
The recent success of Christine McLaren who was one of the 250 successful poets published in this years National Poetry Anthology.
Her local newspaper, The Holderness Gazette, based in East Yorkshire recognised her achievement and wrote about her work. Her poem, 'Iona' was also featured in the article which you can see here. You can view the newspaper cutting here.
Phobia Inspires Poet
CD collection includes the works that helped writer recover from conditionA plymouth man who suffered from Agoraphobia has used his battle with the condition as inspiration for a collection of poetry.
Chris Nayler, suffered from the disorder which causes a fear of open spaces for two years. He is now free of the condition and puts much of his recovery down to writing poetry.
"I felt that poetry was a way of expressing alot of worry and fear and my way of dealing with it was writing it down" he said. You can view the original article here.
Crowned Poetry Champ For Second Time
Philip draws on life experiences to impress judgesA Uttoxeter man has been crowned a nation poetry champion for the second time. Drawing on his own life experiences, Philip Jupp of Bramshall has once again impressed competition judges with his latest literary achievement, by gaining a place in the 2009 Poetry Anthology.
The National Poetry Anthology competition takes place annually, and for the past two years, 65 year old Philip has enjoyed success after entering his work. You can view the original newspaper article here.
Poets See Winning Verses In Print
Two people from Wigan have had their work published in a National Poetry AnthologyRaymond Crispin, 77, of Hawthorn Avenue, Standish, has written short stories for years but had never attempted a poem until he read about a national poetry competition.
Rachel Martin's poem was chosen to represent Wigan in the same book. So impressed were the judges that another of Rachel's poems will appear in a second forth-coming collection called Angel's Breath.
The original news cutting can be seen here.
Golden Day For June Ayling
"I've been writing poetry for many years but never won anything like this before, so I'm really thrilled,"
Writing about the memories of her childhood has won a national poetry prize for housewife June Ayling. She has collected £100 as the first prize in the United Press competition to write a poem on the theme of Golden Days. "I'm really delighted to win the competition and my family are even more pleased than I am about it," said June, who lives in the village of Weedon Bec in Northamptonshire.
June submitted her poem "Magical Memories" for the free-to-enter competition run by United Press. The competition was free to enter and June won the £100 first prize and a free copy of a new book with her poem published in it. "June's poem is rich with nostalgia," said one of the judges in the competition - Peter Quinn, Managing Director of United Press. "It describes perfect days of endless sunshine and happy children. It's a poem which will make anyone reminisce and smile."
"I wrote the poem especially for the competition," said June. "I've had plenty of happy memories and I just put them down in words."
"I've had several poems published in books and I enjoy giving the occasional poetry reading. I read regularly at Rugby Theatre Studio and I've recited poetry for the Women's Institute, of which I am a member," said June. "I've also been lucky enough to win my village parish council poetry competition for the last three years."
Ed Gets A Shock Before His 80th Birthday
I've been writing all my life and never won anything - so it came as a complete surprise
Ed Collins got the shock of his life when he was told that he was the winner of a national poetry title. "The news came the day before my 80th birthday. I've been writing all my life and never won anything - so it came as a complete surprise," said Ed, of Southport.
Ed is the 2009 winner of the biggest free to enter annual national poetry contest there has ever been. He entered the National Poetry Anthology with a poem inspired by his grandchildren. The competition organisers pick 250 regional winners every year - put them in the book - give each winner a free copy - then ask them to vote for the best poem in it. The winner of the vote gets £1,000 and a magnificent trophy to keep for life.
"I've written six novels and countless short stories, as well as a host of poems, but this is the first prize I've ever won," said Ed, a retired teacher.
"I love writing and I find it very therapeutic. I very rarely submit any of my work to anybody, but when I saw the details about the National Poetry Anthology, I felt that I had to enter. This competition is completely free and although I didn't enter it for the £1,000 cash prize, it comes as a nice bonus. I'm not sure what I'm going to spend the money on."
Ed is a widower with two daughters and five grandchildren. His winning poem is entitled "The Land Of Little People".
"It's an endearing description of the way children see the world," said Peter Quinn, managing director of United Press, the competition organisers. Peter presented Ed with his trophy and his £1,000 cheque, at a press gathering at Southport Library. Ed is the first Merseyside winner of the competition. He describes himself as a people person and is very active in his local over fifties club at St Patrick's RC Church, Southport.
See Ed Collins' winning poem and award photos here.
Mary From Edinburgh Wins Cash Prize
I've been writing poetry for many years but never won anything like this before, so I'm really thrilled
A retired teacher from Edinburgh has won the cash prize in our national poetry competition.
Mary Elliott submitted her poem "Too Late Now?" for the free-to-enter poetry competition run by United Press. "I've been writing poetry for many years but never won anything like this before, so I'm really thrilled," said Mary. The competition, entitled "A Writer's Quest" was free to enter and Mary wins the £100 first prize and a free copy of a new book with her poem published in it.
"Mary's poem has a very clear message," said one of the judges in the competition - Peter Quinn, Managing Director of United Press. "It describes how people have a lot to say - but need to find the time to say it."
"I wrote the poem especially for the competition and the message comes from the heart," said Mary. "I've had a very busy life and only now, in my retirement, have I found that I can put all my emotions down in words." Mary, who was born in Middlesbrough, is married to John and they have two children and one grandchild. She has just published a collection of her poems - "Just Wondering" available at £3.99 plus £2 postage. Contact us for more information.
George is 'Feline Fine' About Poem
I have often observed my neighbour's cat and decided that it was the perfect subject for my poem
A neighbour's cat inspired George Payne towards winning a national poetry prize.
A poem written by George about his neighbour's cat has won him first prize in the Animal Magic competition run by United Press. It was chosen as the £100 winning poem out of over 2,000 entries."I've not had much poetry published before, but when I was invited to enter this free competition I decided to have a go," explained George who lives in March, Cambridgeshire.
"I have often observed my neighbour's cat and decided that it was the perfect subject for my poem. I've had a few poems published previously and I write articles for the church magazine at St Mary's CE Church in March, where I'm the churchwarden."
Aged 79, George is married with four children, three stepchildren and ten grandchildren. He was an RAF pilot from 1948-1984 and is secretary of the Old 219 Squadron Association.
