Chris Salmon Poetry Extravaganza 2013

Published on 15-05-2013 09:44AM

Wirral’s new Young Poet Laureate has been crowned as part of this year’s Chris Salmon Poetry Extravaganza. 

Xanthe Brennan received the accolade for her poem ‘Storytelling’, which was chosen as first prize winner in the 11 to 16 category. Awards including cash prizes were also presented in age ranges from reception-age children to adults.

 The Chris Salmon Poetry Extravaganza takes place every year to celebrate the life of Chris Salmon, a student at Calday Grange Grammar School who tragically passed away from a rare streptococcal infection in February 2009 at the age of 15. 

The event is organised by the Chris Salmon Foundation in conjunction with Wirral Council’s Libraries. The Foundation has raised almost £30,000 to date.

 The winners of this year’s competition were presented with their prizes by renowned local poet John Hughes at a special ceremony at Bromborough Civic Centre. In attendance were the Mayor of Wirral Councillor Gerry Ellis and Mayoress Mrs Margaret Ellis. 

Julie and Rich Salmon said: “We are delighted to have received so many outstanding entries for this year’s poetry extravaganza and we hope that next year, as it would have been a special year for Chris, we will receive even more. Once again we would like to thank Diane Mitchell, Wirral Library Service and the Judges for all their hard work which has ensured that the competition has grown so successfully since it was launched in 2010.”

 Cllr Chris Meaden, Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Leisure said: “This year’s event attracted over 700 entrants, which is an incredible achievement and a testament to the work of the Chris Salmon Foundation in creating something so positive from something so tragic.”

 The 2013 Anthology with foreword written by Andy McCluskey of OMD and compiled from the winning entries is now available to purchase for £5 from either the Foundation website www.chrissalmon.org.uk or from Wirral Libraries.