Society competition’s poems featured in book

The first work of South Holland’s new Poet Laureate has been published among others thanks to a historic charity.

Last year, for Queen Elizabeth II’s Jubilee, the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society (SGS) launched a poetry competition with the National Lottery.

Miles Green was chosen as the winner from eight shortlisted entries.

Now the works have been published in a book: South Holland’s Poet Laureate 2022 that is available to purchase for £1 from the Broad Street museum.

Miles’s work Jubilate (rejoice) has been translated into seven different languages for the publication.

Also included are the eight other short-listed poems: In the Doghouse for the Jubilee, by Briony Mann; Mother of Nations, by Rex Sly; Good Queen ‘Beth (The Platinum Years), by Roger Fullilove; Queen’s Weather, by Judy Chapman; Our Fens, by Martin Fairman; Common Ground, by Callum Brazzo and Her Majesty’s Voice, by Mandie Collier.

Miles describes entering as “a moment of madness”.

“I hadn’t written anything in a while and liked the challenge,” he said. “I was and am a big fan of the Queen and have always admired her commitment to her people.

“Having done some reading on her for a ‘Thought for the week’ piece, I thought I had something interesting to say in poetic form.

“I only started writing when I became a Christian at 17.

“A lot of what I do conveys a message that is overtly or not faith based. Although there are some that are just plain silly!”

The SGS is going to commission more work from Miles who also has his own ideas about the work.

His work was decided on by a judging panel including the monarch’s representative in Lincolnshire, Lord Lieutenant William Webb, SGS chairman Petronella Keeling, Harrison Fuller, Elizabeth Gunning and The Voice editor Rachel Mayfield.

“I think that poetry will start to have a renaissance with the younger and Tik Tok generation because in a few words it’s possible to convey thoughts, messages and themes.

“I hope that in 2023 we will have a Poetry Slam or evening event where we can bring together some of the other Lincs Poet laureates and invite the public to come and read as well,” he said. “I’m not sure everyone has a book in them as the quote goes but everyone does have a poem or two. They just to be willing to stand and look stupid – which is how every poet starts .

“I have already been invited to read in Bourne and a schools competition.”

The SGS is now open for longer with many of its 30,000 exhibits on display for free from 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

Eleanor Chadd has been taken on full time to oversee the Broad Street base with tens of volunteers giving up their time to keep it open for longer.

“Opening longer is going well so far, and it’s great to see more people coming in and seeing our incredible collection,” chair Petronella Keeling said. “It’s great that we have the poems now published.

“It was fascinating ready all the entries and we had a really good response.

“We’ll have more from him coming up.”