Poetry competition in memory of Greasby teen returns to Wirral

Sep 19 2012 by Helen Hunt, Heswall News

A COMPETITION which commemorates the life of a Wirral teenager who harboured a passion for poetry is returning to the borough.

And organisers say it will be bigger and better than ever before.

Following the huge success of last year’s event, the Chris Salmon Poetry Extravaganza 2013 in memory of Chris Salmon, a student at Calday Grange Grammar School who died from a rare streptococcal infection, will this year be open to even more people.

Last year more than 400 entries were received. Now Chris’ charity, The Christopher Salmon Foundation, in conjunction with Wirral Libraries has announced that whereas the competition was open to all primary, secondary and sixth form students in Wirral, this year the field has been widened to also allow adults to enter (16 and over).

Cllr Chris Meaden, Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Leisure said: “The Chris Salmon Foundation has ensured he will have an enduring legacy by promoting literacy and creativity and inspiring others with his love of poetry. The competition gets bigger year after year and their fundraising activities touch the lives of so many in our community.”

Chris, from Greasby, passed away in February 2009 at the age of 15 – just days after complaining of a headache.

His family say the teenager was enthusiastic about poetry and after his death they discovered he had penned dozens of poems they knew nothing about.

Since being set up The Chris Salmon Foundation has so far raised over £20,000 in his memory.

The theme of this year’s poetry competition is “Water”. Cash prizes will be awarded to winners and runners-up in each category, as well as the chance to attend a poetry workshop organised by renowned local poet John Hughes.

The overall winner will become Wirral’s Young Poet Laureate for the following 12 months.

Further details are available at www.chrissalmon.org.uk