Young poet in the final (From Witney Gazette)

Young poet in the final

9:20am Saturday 10th February 2007 in Witney By Tim Hughes

A YOUNG poet's winning way with rhyme has earned him a place in the final of a national poetry competition.

Rem Cuppock-Cuds, pictured, from Cokethorpe School, near Ducklington, is one of 16 young people whose poems were selected from more than 20,000 entries to make it the final of the Pound a Poem contest. The ten-year-old, who lives in West End Lane, Merton, near Bicester, will now see his poem published in a book alongside verses from well-known personalities. If his poem wins, he will also win a family holiday to Barbados.

The contest is open to all children aged seven to 11, and raises funds for Cancer Research UK. Every child taking part pays a pound for each poem they enter, with all money raised going towards research into children's cancers.

The theme for each poem is fruit and vegetables.

Christine Cook, the headteacher of Cokethorpe School, said: "It's fantastic that Rem is through to the last 16 of the competition, as they had thousands of entries. We are very proud of him. He's done extremely well."

Rem's poem, called The Dragon Fruit, will be judged along with the other 15 shortlisted entries, by a panel, which includes the Children's Laureate, author Jacqueline Wilson, best known as the creator of Tracy Beaker.

Ms Wilson said: "I am thrilled to be involved in Pound a Poem, which is a brilliant opportunity for children to engage with poetry through a theme that is universally accessible and important. I think it's a wonderful idea to encourage creativity."

Cancer Research UK fundraiser, Jacqueline Fitzgerald, said: "We had a huge response to the competition from schools all over the country, and the children let their imaginations run riot. We've had wonderful poems and verses about everything from pears and pomegranates to sprouts and turnips. There has been a real feast of ideas."

The results will be announced in March.