Thomas Gray Anniversary – Poetry Competition 2014 Results

Theme: ‘Inspired by the Elegy’

The Stoke Poges Society is pleased to announce the results of the first poetry competition held in the run-up to the tercentenary of Gray’s birth in 2016. Judged by our local poet, David Gwilym Anthony, the winners of the senior competition are:

First Prize: Walking With the Birds and Bones in Fairview Cemetery (£250) by Martin Elster from West Hartford, Connecticut

Second Prize: EBB TIDE (£100) by Carolyn King from the Isle of Wight

Third Prize: Exit at St Mary’s (£60) by Mark Fiddes from London

Poems submitted were required to have been inspired in some way by a reading of the Elegy.

David was impressed by the overall quality of the entries which made judging difficult. To reflect this, he decided to award six Highly Commended (Honourable Mentions) rather than the three stated in the competition rules.

The following entries were awarded Highly Commended and each receive £30:

After the Flood by Catherine Chanter

A Play by Fred Canavan

At The Burial of an Abbess by Gail White

Elegy on My Ash by Mary McLean

Laying Ghosts to Rest by John Beaton

Shades of Gray by Kevin Saving

Click on the hyperlinks to read the winning and highly commended poems.

There were no entries in the Junior Competition this year.

The Stoke Poges Society would like to thank all the entrants and hope that they will be encouraged to participate again next year.

The awards were made at a reception held at St Giles’ Church, in September 2014.