The Poetry Kit

Competitions

Courses

Events

Funding

How-to Books

Magazines

Organisations

Poets

Publishers

Who's Who

Workshops

Home

Search

 

 

POETRY KIT IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE
 
THE TED SLADE AWARD FOR SERVICE TO POETRY 2012
 
IS AWARDED TO
 
BRIAN WAKE
 
This years recipient of the Ted Slade Award is Liverpool born Brian Wake.  Brian has published eight books of poetry. He has been published in poetry magazine and journals all over the world and has had his work broadcast on radio and television for many years.  He is founder/editor of Driftwood Publications – Merseyside’s longest running poetry press. He has read his poetry at venues throughout the UK and has organised and MC’d poetry events, including the Sefton literature programme, since the early 90s. He attracted most of the UK’s best known poets to read in Merseyside. 
 
Brian said; “I'm delighted to receive The Ted Slade Award. It helps to make what I've been doing in the poetry business seem all the more worthwhile. It reminds me, too, of how long I've been at it both in terms of my own writing, the Driftwood Publications period, the Driftwood readings and, of course, the Sefton Arts work including getting two poet laureates to come and read in Sefton.” Brian Wake
 
Ted Slade was the founding editor of The Poetry Kit n every respect it was his vision and determination that saw the site grow to become one of the most visited poetry related sites in the world. This was done with the ethos of providing a service for our readers and always putting their needs first when developing the site. For all his work Ted received no official thanks and no payment, he did it because it was necessary and if he had not done it some others with less integrity might have.
Ted died suddenly (Memorial Page) and we always felt that we wanted to find a way to honour his memory and so we introduced an award in his name which is given to a person who has given their time and energies over an extended period to ensuring the continuance and development of poetry,. This will include people who have kept poetry as a presence in an area or community. Those who have pursued a poetic vision through a magazine or regular reading events. Those who have developed other media to explore its poetic use or have published poets who could not have otherwise found an outlet for their work.
In 2005 we gave the first TED SLADE AWARD and since then the following people have received it;
 
2005
Sally Evans
(Poetry Scotland)
2006
Gerald England
(New Hope International)
2007
Michael Horovitz
(Poetry Olympics)
2008
Connie Pickard
(Morden Tower)
2009
Geoff Stevens
(Purple Patch)
2010
Andy Croft
(Smokestack Books)
2011
Peter Finch
(Peter Finch Archive)
2012
Brian Wake
(Brian Wake’s Publisher)
 
 
 
All recipients of the Ted Slade Award are acknowledged for their endeavour and dedication in the promotion of poetry. Without such people many of today's well known poets would not have had the opportunity to find a platform, develop their skills or find an audience.
A Crystal Vase, similar to the one shown has been donated to be used as the Ted Slade Award and it is to permanently displayed with the names of the
award recipients.
Home