Literacy news
Gold Medal for Poetry awarded to John Agard
20 Dec 2012
John Agard has become the winner of Her Majesty’s Gold Medal Award for Poetry in 2012. He has been recognised for his body of work in recent years, including his 2009 volume Alternative Anthem: Selected Poems and Goldilocks on CCTV, his book of children’s poems released in 2011.
The poetry medal committee, chaired by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, met in November at Buckingham Palace and agreed Agard should be nominated for the award.
Carol Ann Duffy said:
John Agard has always made people sit up and listen. He has done this with intelligence, humour and generosity. He has the ability to temper anger with wit and difficult truths with kindness.
John Agard commented:
When told the news out of the blue on the phone by the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, I couldn't believe my ears and it took a little time to sink in. I am delighted as well as touched to be in the company of such names as Charles Causley, Norman MacCaig, Gillian Clarke, Stevie Smith, and Derek Walcott.
I am deeply thankful to the Poetry Medal Committee who supported my nomination for this honour and to all who supported my work over the years.
The Gold Medal was first introduced by King George V in 1933 and is awarded to someone in the UK or Commonwealth who showcases an outstanding published poetry collection or body of work. The Queen will present Agard with his medal in 2013.
