Month: February 2019

Edward Thomas Fellowship’s annual Poetry Competition was initiated and endowed by the poet’s grandson Edward Cawston Thomas.

Now in its fourth year there has been an excellent response with over three hundred poems entered, most of them being of a high standard. Judged by the prize-winning poet and reviewer Jane Draycott the competition is now, we’re told, seen as a serious and prestigious one.

The 1st prize was won by Maggie Davison of Hexham, Northumberland for her poem, ‘Jacket’.

The two joint prize-winners are Richard Meier and Oliver Comins for ‘Faculties’ and ‘Winter Search’.

The six Highly Commended poets are Alyss Dye, Lindsay Rossdale, Helen Boyles, James Driver, Mark Fiddes and Tista Austin.… Continue Reading

Edward Thomas was born in Lambeth on 3rd March 1878 and served, and died, in World War 1. He was a literary critic and country writer who came late to writing poetry, now being one of the War Poets commemorated in Westminster Abbey.

Thomas was encouraged by American poet Robert Frost, after they met in 1913, to write poetry and verse. He and Helen had moved to Steep, just outside Petersfield, in 1906 where they lived in three different houses around the village. Edward drew inspiration to write his poems from the beautiful Hampshire countryside which surrounds Steep.

The Birthday Walk, this year held on the Sunday 3rd March 2019, retraces the life of Edward Thomas and shares collected poems and prose of his work.… Continue Reading