City gets a poet laureate (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

City gets a poet laureate

8:29am Saturday 1st March 2008 in

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Bradford is to get its first Poet Laureate, as Gerard Benson is to be unveiled at the first holder of the civic post on Monday.

Mr Benson, below, who lives in Bradford, is best known for his children's work including the book To Catch an Elephant.

On Monday he will be the guest of honour at a civic lunch in City Hall, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Robin Owens.

Mr Benson has worked in many of the district's schools, given a series of readings and workshops at libraries, and performed at the Alhambra Studio and as well as a number of other Bradford venues.

He is also known for his adult work, and as well as a number of published books of his own, he has poems in well over a hundred anthologies.

Bradford's Poet Laureate post is an honorary position and Mr Benson will appear at civic and Council events with specially written poems to perform at these occasions such as the installation of the Lord Mayor. He already has a poem ready for the civic lunch on Monday.

The Lord Mayor said: "Bradford as a city and a district is full of culture and it seems only right that we should have our own Poet Laureate to create poems for us all to enjoy."

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