Poet wins national competition after being inspired by Lido Park (From Droitwich Advertiser)

Poet wins national competition after being inspired by Lido Park

10:30am Tuesday 1st November 2011 in News

A DROITWICH mum has won a national competition backed by former Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion after drawing inspiration from the town’s Lido Park.

Sarah Leavesley, who has the pen name Sarah James, co-authored an eight-line poem inspired by Sir Andrew’s work on Vintage Inns’ latest national press campaign, which honours the Great British rural pub. He is judging the best line submitted each week, so they can be added to gradually complete the verse.

The competition was started with “The muted brilliance of autumn leaves” and Sarah’s line to complete the first rhyming couplet – chosen by Sir Andrew over hundreds of entries from all over the country - read: “The wind’s deep voice soft-tickling the trees.”

The 36-year-old will receive a framed copy of the eventual eight-line poem, plus a meal for four with wine at her The Robin Hood, off the A38 in Rashwood. She will also get a signed copy of Sir Andrew’s latest collection of poems, The Cinder Path, which has been shortlisted for The Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry.

She said: “It’s fantastic news and I’m delighted. Who’d have thought that Sir Andrew Motion would ever review my work, even just a line of it, but as a person who lives for writing this is right up there. It’s former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion and he has picked my line over many others, so it’s very gratifying. I drew my inspiration for the line from Droitwich Lido Park, because the kids and I always pass through it to and from school - and it’s just beautiful this time of year.

This lyrical competition with a difference is being hosted via a ‘Poetry Competition’ tab on the Vintage Inns Facebook page at facebook.com/vintageinns