Hebden Bridge Times website – 8th October, 2012

Richard E Grant and Grace Nichols with young poets in front of statue of Sir John Betjeman.

Winning wordsmith Hugo Grundy walked away with a £1,000 prize after scooping the 2012 John Betjeman Poetry Competition for Young People in London.

Actor Richard E Grant awarded the 10 year old, a pupil at Riverside Junior School, Hebden Bridge, his prize in a ceremony held at St Pancras International on National Poetry Day on Thursday.

More than 3,000 school children entered the competition, with Hugo taking the prize, to be shared with the English department at his school, for his poem, titled ‘Peter’s Room’.

Hugo said: “I’m delighted because it’s the biggest competition I have ever entered. When I came up to read my poem I felt quite intense and shaky but when I got into reading it I felt proud and calm.”

Hugo was invited to read his poem on the station concourse at St Pancras International, London during National Poetry Day. The reading took place next to the bronze statue of Sir John Betjeman, a former Poet Laureate. Following the prize-giving there were refreshments and afternoon tea at the Betjeman Arms.

See more details and pictures in Thursday’s Hebden Bridge Times at www.hebdenbridgetimes.co.uk.