A BRONZE bust celebrating the life of a Bradford-born First World War poet will be handed over to the city in a special ceremony.

Humbert Wolfe, who was educated at Bradford Grammar School, also worked as a Whitehall civil servant in the 1920s and 30s. He was responsible for the organisation of labour in the Ministry of Munitions, equipping soldiers during the Great War.

He also helped equip British soldiers for the Second World War and was the first to write poems against the Nazi Party.

His 1916 poem, 'Requiem: The Soldier', is read at Remembrance Sunday services each year.

Born in 1885, he published more than 40 books of his own poetry and was rejected from enlisting four times due to ill-health.

In 1931 he became a Fellow of Royal Society of Literature and was one of the favourites to become the Poet Laureateship but was up against Rudyard Kipling.

But, it is claimed, his colourful private life was one of the reasons why Mr Wolfe, who died in January 1940, became largely forgotten after the Second World War.

Now, to mark the 135th and 75th anniversary of his birth and death, his great-great nephew, award-winning sculptor and writer, Anthony Padgett will give one of the five busts he has created to City Library in a ceremony on Saturday, December 5.

The event, which starts at 3pm, includes the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds, unveiling the sculpture. Mr Padgett will also talk about Mr Wolfe and performance poet Stephen O'Connor will read some of his poems.

Mr Padgett, 46, of Preston, says it took him three months to construct the bust.

He said: "I feel privileged to be able to have work that will be seen by the people of Bradford and Yorkshire, and that the work should be of a figure from the 1920s and 1930s who was to Bradford and poetry as important as JB Priestley was to Bradford and play writing.

"He was the James Bond of poetry.

"He went to casinos and dos and was always impeccably dressed."

Mr Padgett's bust of Mr Wolfe was cold-cast in bronze, silver, gold, marble and granite, each has gone to key cities associated with his life and works; Bradford, Oxford, London and New York.

The five busts went on display for the first time together in 'The Five Heads of Humbert Wolfe' exhibition at Westminster Reference Library in London in January.

Mr Padgett added: "Careful research was done to find the best place for the heads.

"One head is in the Berg scholars collection at New York Public library, where there are more than 3,500 of documents and manuscripts around Humbert Wolfe, including letters from TS Eliot and the Sitwells to him."