Poetry Competition

Calling all poets!

Young people from the Garstang area who are interested in poetry are invited to enter this year’s James Dodding memorial poetry awards.

The competition is an open theme, it can be any topic of the writers choice and as creative as possible. Entry forms at the bottom of this page.

The Age Categories:

Senior: ages 12 to 16 (on August 28th, 2025) – closed

Junior: ages 9 to 11 (on August 28th, 2025) – closed

The Prizes:

Senior: first prize £50 cash, shield and poetry book. Second prize £25 and poetry book. Third prize £15 and poetry book.

Junior: first prize £50 cash, shield and poetry book. Second prize £25 and poetry book. Third prize £15 and poetry book.

The awards have been running for several years now (with a gap during the Covid pandemic). The young winners have come from throughout the greater Garstang area.

The prizegiving will be at the Arts Centre on Saturday, September 27th at 10am.

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Garstang-born James Dodding was a much loved and respected local resident. He was a founding member of Garstang Poetry Appreciation Society. During his life he played a major role in arts and theatre education in the United Kingdom, the USA and Canada. Many of his students went on to become household names including David Bowie, Gary Oldman and Benedict Cumberbatch.

James died in 2018, aged 87. These awards are in his honour to encourage creative talent among local young people.

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Entry Form Below:

This year’s submission date has been extended until the 28th August at noon.

To apply, please download and print off the entry and information form, or for a physical copy visit the Garstang Arts Centre or Market Place News. Entrants can apply independently or via their school.