University of Reading students are being encouraged to explore their creative side by entering the annual Raymond Wilson Poetry Prize.
The competition is held in memory of brilliant educationalist Raymond Wilson (1925-1995), former Emeritus Professor of Education at the University. The prize of £200 will be awarded for the best poem for children.
Competition organiser, Stephanie Sharp of the Institute of Education, said: “This competition will be judged by children in a local school and their vote carries equal weighting with that of a published children’s poet and with mine as an academic. This brings the perspectives of teacher, writer and young reader to bear on the judging.”
Last autumn, after much deliberation over a very impressive standard of entries, the judges announced PhD student Heike Bruton as winner for her poem, ‘I am the Love for you’.
This year, the closing date for entries will fall on National Poetry Day on 8th October 2015, with the winner being announced on 2nd November.
Raymond Wilson was an exceptional educationalist, as well as an inspired educational editor who introduced new editions of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poetry and Jane Austen’s novels. Wilson was also well-known as an intuitive, sensitive critic and a prolific anthologist.
Entries to the Raymond Wilson Poetry Prize may be sent to the competition administrator: Chris Tibbenham, Institute of Education, University of Reading, London Road Campus, RG1 5EX.
Queries about any aspect of the competition can be addressed to Stephanie Sharp: s.sharp@reading.ac.uk (ext 2675).
The Raymond Wilson Poetry Prize Rules:
- Poems should be written for children.
- Entrants may submit up to three poems with a maximum length of 40 lines for each poem.
- Poems must be the original work of the entrant.
- Poems should be word processed.
- Poems are regarded as copies and cannot be returned.
- The writer’s name should not be included with their poem(s). The poem(s) should be submitted in an envelope accompanied by a separate sealed envelope giving the author’s name, connection with the University, contact address and either the title or first line of their poem(s).