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16 Mar 2015

Bill Overton Poetry Prize – one month to go

Aspiring poets have a month to submit entries for the 2015 Bill Overton Poetry prize.

The competition was set up for the first time in 2014 by English, Drama and Publishing.  It honours the memory of Professor Bill Overton who died in 2012.  He was Professor of Literary Studies and former head of the Department of English and Drama, having joined the University in the 1970s. 

Entrants are asked to submit a sequence of poems (up to 300 lines) on a subject of their choice.  The winning sequence will be published, and two runners-up will receive a cash prize of £50 each.  Proceeds from the competition entry fees will go towards funding an early-career poet in residence at the University.

The judges for the competition for the competition are Sarah Kelly and Dr Kerry Featherstone.  Sarah is the University’s current poet in residence.  She is widely published, the author of two chapbook collections and co-editor of AlbaLondres.  Dr Featherstone is a lecturer of Creative Writing and has been published in a range of poetry journals.  He has previously judged several poetry and fiction competitions.

Dr Kerry Featherstone comments: “Bill Overton was hugely respected as a teacher and writer.  Much of his work focused on poetry so this competition is a fitting tribute.  We very much hope this this prize in his memory will contribute to the creative life of the department, our students and budding poets from the local area and beyond.  We look forward to receiving submissions.”

The deadline for entries is Friday 17 April 2015. Further information about the competition, entry criteria and the submission of entries is available here

 

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR15/31

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ in London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

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