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Spelthorne Borough Council & Surrey Poet Laureateship present:
Spelthorne 50 Years of Memories
For UNESCO's World Poetry Day!
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About
As the Surrey Poet Laureateship, we are especially proud to partner with Spelthorne Borough Council to celebrate two significant milestones: World Poetry Day and the 50th Anniversary of the Borough of Spelthorne. This collaboration is deeply meaningful to us, as Spelthorne is not only a partner but our home—the place where the Surrey Poet Laureateship began. This relationship underlines our shared commitment to cultural enrichment and literary excellence within the community.
Celebrating History and Poetry
Marking this monumental year for Spelthorne, a borough steeped in rich history and vibrant community spirit, reflects a golden opportunity to celebrate the place where our journey as a laureateship first took root. Since its establishment in 1974, Spelthorne has witnessed and shaped significant cultural and social developments. As we commemorate this anniversary, we also celebrate the transformative power of poetry, which offers us profound ways to express, connect, and reflect.
Our poetry competition invites the voices of Spelthorne’s residents and children to express what this borough means to them—its historical achievements, its present vitality, and its future aspirations. It’s an opportunity to underscore the growth, resilience, and spirit of our community through the evocative beauty of poetry.
A Call to Poets
With its inspiring landscapes—from the serene banks of the Thames to grand historical landmarks and the daily vibrancy of community life—Spelthorne is a muse for poets and artists alike. This event goes beyond a mere competition; it is a celebration of all that makes Spelthorne unique and dear to us. We invite poets to explore themes of heritage, personal memories, and shared community experiences that resonate with the essence of being part of this wonderful borough.
Join Us in This Poetic Journey
We are excited to see the community come together to honour the profound connections and shared stories that poetry can illuminate. This celebration invites everyone who calls Spelthorne home, as well as those who cherish it, to participate in shaping the narrative of our borough’s next chapter.
Together with Spelthorne Borough Council, we look forward to your poetic submissions and to commemorating these milestones through the powerful expressions that capture the spirit and heart of Spelthorne, the birthplace of our Surrey Poet Laureateship.
A Message from the Mayor
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We proudly celebrated 50 years of Spelthorne, a milestone that reflects our borough’s rich history, vibrant community, and bright future. As we mark this special occasion we invite you to join in the celebrations and be part of this historic moment.
One of the key highlights of our anniversary is a poetry competition in collaboration with Surrey Poet Laureateship, where we encourage poets of all ages, students, aspiring writers, and the public to create and share poems that capture the essence of Spelthorne. Whether it’s our history, scenic riversides, thriving businesses, diverse cultures, or the strong sense of community, we want your words to reflect what makes Spelthorne special.
This is your chance to celebrate our borough’s past, present, and future through the power of poetry. Selected poems will be featured in our anniversary event on World Poetry Day, 21 March 2025, making your voice part of Spelthorne’s legacy.
Join us in making history. Let’s celebrate Spelthorne at 50 together!
Details
Rules & Guidelines
Eligibility and Entry Requirements
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Original Work: All entries must be entirely original and solely the work of the entrant. Each participant is allowed to submit only one poem.
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AI Policy: Poems generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be disqualified.
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Unpublished Material: We accept only original, unpublished poems. Previously published poems, including those published on personal blogs, social media platforms, or through other competitions, will not be accepted.
Theme and Length
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Children’s Category (Ages 11-17): Poems should reflect on the theme of "50 Years of Spelthorne," celebrating the borough’s growth, resilience, and community spirit over the past five decades. Submissions may touch on personal memories, historic events, significant local places, or the natural beauty of Spelthorne.
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Residents’ Category (Ages 18+): Submissions should explore what Spelthorne means to its people, including personal connections, experiences, and reflections on both the positives and challenges faced by the borough.
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Open Call Category: This category is open to any theme to celebrate World Poetry Day and invites a broad range of creative expressions without thematic restrictions.
Formatting and Submission
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Length: Poems must be no longer than 30 lines, including title and spaces between stanzas.
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Document Formatting: Each poem must be clearly typed, double-spaced, and submitted as a PDF document.
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Anonymity: To ensure fairness in judging, do not include your name or any identifying marks on the manuscript itself. The title of the poem should be included at the top of the first page.
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Deadline: Submissions must be received by midnight on the stated deadline date. Late entries will not be considered. Deadline date: March 7th 2025
Judging
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Poems will be judged on originality, creativity, use of language, and relevance to the theme (for themed categories). The judges' decisions are final.
General Conditions
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By entering the competition, participants agree to allow their poems to be published in event-related publications or promotional material, in print or online, without additional compensation.
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The competition is open to all ages within the specified categories, with specific categories designated for local residents aged 18+ and children aged 11-17.
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Participants retain the rights to their work but grant Spelthorne Borough the right to first publication should their entry win.
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Longlist & Shortlist: All entries will be carefully reviewed, and a longlist will be produced, followed by a shortlist of finalists. If your poem is shortlisted, you will receive a special invitation to share your work at a prestigious event.
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Event Invitation: Shortlisted entrants will have the unique opportunity to read their poem aloud during our special event on March 21st, held in the chamber of the council—a venue rarely open for such occasions. This will be a memorable experience, allowing poets to present their work in a formal and esteemed setting.
We invite poets of all ages to share their unique perspectives and help commemorate this significant milestone in Spelthorne’s history. Whether reflecting on the past, commenting on the present, or imagining the future, your poem is a valuable part of our celebration.
Prizes
Celebrate your poetic talent with us and stand a chance to win exciting prizes in each of our three competition categories:
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Longlist: For each category, the top 10 poems will be featured on our official website and shared across our social media platforms, showcasing your work to a broad audience.
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Shortlist: From each category, the top 5 poets will be honoured with an exclusive invitation to read their poem at our celebratory event on March 21st, held in the prestigious chamber of the council. This is a rare opportunity to present your work in a formal and historically significant setting.
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Winner: The winner in each category will be awarded the Spelthorne Borough Shield Trophy. The trophies will be presented during the event, commemorating your achievement in a memorable ceremony.
Participate for your chance to be recognized as a leading voice in our community’s vibrant literary scene across children, residents, and open categories.
Judging Panel
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Adam Gary FRSA
We are thrilled to have Adam Gary, the inaugural Surrey Poet Laureate as one of our esteemed judges for this competition. With a decade of experience in crafting poignant poetry, Adam has successfully channelled his passion into a popular YouTube channel, which has amassed nearly half a million views, captivating audiences worldwide with his expressive and thought-provoking performances. Additionally, he is the visionary founder of The Poetry Cove, a thriving community for poets and writers, and serves as the editor-in-chief of their magazine. Adam’s dedication to the art form and his contributions to the literary community make him an inspirational figure and a guiding force for this event.
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Sharron Green
Sharron Green’s work blends nostalgia, nature and comments on modern life, gaining her a strong and loyal following on social media - where she’s better known as Rhymes_n_Roses. In addition to her four chapbooks – Introducing Rhymes_n_Roses, Viral Odes, Willing Words and her latest, Rhymes for the Mind – she has individual poems in over 20 international anthologies. A confident and skilled performance poet, Sharron co-hosts two open mic poetry nights – Poetry and Pizza at Solar Sisters in Guildford and Write out Loud at the Fiery Bird Venue Woking. She is also a proud member of the Booming Lovelies, a trio of poets who have performed at a number of venues around Surrey and in London. In 2022, she graduated from the University of Surrey with an MA in creative writing and was the Head Writer for the Surrey New Writers Festival in 2023. Sharron lives with her husband and golden retriever Dougie in Guildford, and enjoys walking in the beautiful Surrey Hills – a landscape that often inspires her poetry.
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Tim Franck
Tim Franck has lived in Staines for over 45 years and has loved poetry since school. He currently leads the Poetry Appreciation Society of Staines, which meets regularly to read and discuss different genres of poetry. He regularly participates in the events and initiatives of the Surrey Poet Laureateship and enjoys Spelthorne's growing poetry life. He shares his poetry at the Laureate Lounge open mic sessions and has had two of his poems included in the recent Surrey Poetry Anthology book. Tim is excited to be involved in Spelthorne's Poetry Competition and enjoying new poetry written by the people of Spelthorne.
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Humus
Humus is a multi-talented artist who intertwines the vibrancy of written and visual arts, spanning poetry, singing, digital art, and martial arts. Her artistic journey gained momentum after the coronavirus lockdown, a challenging time that saw her channel deep personal experiences into her poetry. Her work, notably her popular piece "I Like A Man," which has amassed over 3 million views, speaks to the universal experiences of love and desire, showcasing her ability to capture life's myriad emotions from joy to loss. In addition to her poetic achievements, Humus excels at merging poetry with digital art, creating custom illustrations and garments that translate poets' inner thoughts into visual narratives. Her unique artistry not only captivates but also deeply connects with the spoken word community. Recently, Humus joined the Surrey Poet Laureateship team and now co-hosts our monthly open mic nights in Staines, where she continues to inspire and engage with artists and audiences alike.