OXFORD poet Kate Clanchy, the writer in residence at Oxford Spires Academy, has won a prestigious literary award.
The Scottish writer has won the Cholmondeley Award at the Society of Authors ‘Authors’ Awards’ 2018 for her general body of work and contribution to poetry.
Ms Clanchy, who works with staff and students at Oxford Spires Academy and recently received an MBE, was praised by the judging panel for her poetry and also her work with refugee children.
Last year one of her pupils Amineh Abou Kerech, a 13-year-old Syrian refugee, who couldn’t speak English before arriving in Oxford in 2016, won the Betjeman Poetry Prize.
At last night’s ceremony, hosted by Stephen Fry, Ms Clanchy joined previous winners Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy, and John Agard to scoop the coveted award.
One of the judges, Pascale Petit, said: “Kate Clanchy is an exquisite poet - she has increased our understanding of new motherhood through her own verse but also as editor of anthologies.
“Her teaching success with refugee teens in schools is absolutely astonishing.”
Long-serving Balliol College politics tutor, Sudhir Hazareesingh, a former Oxford student, also won on the night.
He was awarded a Travelling Scholarship, given to British writers to help them keep in contact with writing colleagues abroad.
Judges praised him for his book How the French Think.
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