Oxford University Poetry Society
Encyclopedia
The Oxford University Poetry Society (OUPS) aims to be the centre of poetic life within the University of Oxford
, and was founded in 1946 by Martin Starkie
.
s in Oxford
: its weekly events on Thursdays of the Oxford University term are open to the public and members of the university alike, and generally feature distinguished members of the British poetic community. Historically, readers have included Ted Hughes
and Dylan Thomas
and in recent years visiting readers have included the then Poet Laureate
Andrew Motion
, and other renowned poets such as Paul Muldoon
, Anne Stevenson
, Craig Raine
, Daljit Nagra
, Alice Oswald
and Saul Williams
.
OUPS holds writing workshops on Wednesdays at The Chequers - during which members read and critique one another's work - and administrates numerous other events, including open mic readings and collaborations with various college arts festivals. The society also disseminates information about university poetry competitions, including the Newdigate Prize
, the Lord Alfred Douglas Memorial Prize and the Eugene Lee-Hamilton Prize, events such as the termly readings at Balliol College under the auspices of the current Oxford Professor of Poetry
, Geoffrey Hill
, and external resources which may be of interest to members, such as the Poetry Library.
The society administers the annual Martin Starkie Prize, named after OUPS's founder, and its own Poetry Reading Competition (formerly known as the Declamation Competition). It has a quarterly magazine, Ash, which was launched by Helen Taylor in Michaelmas term 2007, showcasing the writing of its members.
The current committee is composed of Anna McCrory (President), Toby Lloyd (Vice-President), Lucy Fielder (Treasurer), Maisie Lawrence (Ash editor), Georgia Mizen (Deputy Ash editor, Workshop Director), Augusta Thompson (Live Events Manager), Owain Jevons and Hanz MacDonald (Publicity Officers). The senior member is Bernard O'Donoghue
.
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, and was founded in 1946 by Martin Starkie
Martin Starkie
Martin Starkie was an English actor, writer and director for theatre, radio and television. The Oxford University Poetry Society administers the annual Martin Starkie Prize in his honour.-Early life:...
.
Society activities
The society is a regular provider of poetry readingPoetry reading
A poetry reading is a performance of poetry, normally given on a small stage in a café or bookstore, although poetry readings given by notable poets frequently are booked into larger venues to accommodate crowds...
s in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
: its weekly events on Thursdays of the Oxford University term are open to the public and members of the university alike, and generally feature distinguished members of the British poetic community. Historically, readers have included Ted Hughes
Ted Hughes
Edward James Hughes OM , more commonly known as Ted Hughes, was an English poet and children's writer. Critics routinely rank him as one of the best poets of his generation. Hughes was British Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death.Hughes was married to American poet Sylvia Plath, from 1956 until...
and Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
and in recent years visiting readers have included the then Poet Laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
Andrew Motion
Andrew Motion
Sir Andrew Motion, FRSL is an English poet, novelist and biographer, who presided as Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2009.- Life and career :...
, and other renowned poets such as Paul Muldoon
Paul Muldoon
Paul Muldoon is an Irish poet. He has published over thirty collections and won a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the T. S. Eliot Prize. He held the post of Oxford Professor of Poetry from 1999 - 2004. At Princeton University he is both the Howard G. B. Clark ’21 Professor in the Humanities and...
, Anne Stevenson
Anne Stevenson
Anne Stevenson is an American-British poet and writer.-Life:Stevenson's parents Louise Destler Stevenson and C.L. Stevenson met at a Cincinnati High School. They were living in Cambridge, England, where Charles was studying philosophy under I. A. Richards and Wittgenstein, when their first...
, Craig Raine
Craig Raine
Craig Raine is an English poet and critic born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England. Along with Christopher Reid, he is the best-known exponent of Martian poetry.-Life:...
, Daljit Nagra
Daljit Nagra
Daljit Nagra is a British poet whose debut collection, Look We Have Coming to Dover! — a title alluding to W. H. Auden's Look, Stranger!, D. H. Lawrence's Look! We have come through! and by epigraph also to Matthew Arnold's 'Dover Beach' — was published by Faber in February 2007...
, Alice Oswald
Alice Oswald
-Career:Oswald read Classics at New College, Oxford, has worked as a gardener at Chelsea Physic Garden, and today lives with her husband, the playwright Peter Oswald , and her three children in Devon, in the South-West of England....
and Saul Williams
Saul Williams
Saul Stacey Williams is an American poet, writer, actor and musician known for his blend of poetry and alternative hip hop and for his leading role in the 1998 independent film Slam.-Biography:...
.
OUPS holds writing workshops on Wednesdays at The Chequers - during which members read and critique one another's work - and administrates numerous other events, including open mic readings and collaborations with various college arts festivals. The society also disseminates information about university poetry competitions, including the Newdigate Prize
Newdigate prize
Sir Roger Newdigate's Prize is awarded to students of the University of Oxford for Best Composition in English verse by an undergraduate who has been admitted to Oxford within the previous four years. It was founded by Sir Roger Newdigate, Bt in the 18th century...
, the Lord Alfred Douglas Memorial Prize and the Eugene Lee-Hamilton Prize, events such as the termly readings at Balliol College under the auspices of the current Oxford Professor of Poetry
Oxford Professor of Poetry
The chair of Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford is an unusual academic appointment, now held for a term of five years, and chosen through an election open to all members of Convocation, namely, all graduates and current academics of the university; in 2010, on-line voting was allowed....
, Geoffrey Hill
Geoffrey Hill
Geoffrey Hill is an English poet, professor emeritus of English literature and religion, and former co-director of the Editorial Institute, at Boston University. Hill has been considered to be among the most distinguished poets of his generation...
, and external resources which may be of interest to members, such as the Poetry Library.
The society administers the annual Martin Starkie Prize, named after OUPS's founder, and its own Poetry Reading Competition (formerly known as the Declamation Competition). It has a quarterly magazine, Ash, which was launched by Helen Taylor in Michaelmas term 2007, showcasing the writing of its members.
The current committee is composed of Anna McCrory (President), Toby Lloyd (Vice-President), Lucy Fielder (Treasurer), Maisie Lawrence (Ash editor), Georgia Mizen (Deputy Ash editor, Workshop Director), Augusta Thompson (Live Events Manager), Owain Jevons and Hanz MacDonald (Publicity Officers). The senior member is Bernard O'Donoghue
Bernard O'Donoghue
Bernard O'Donoghue is a noted contemporary Irish poet and academic.Born in Cullen, County Cork, Ireland, he moved to Manchester, England when he was 16, where he attended St Bede's College. He has lived in Oxford, England since 1965...
.
Past Presidents
Past Presidents include (incomplete list):- c. 1970 - Brian HintonBrian HintonBrian Hinton, MBE is an English poet and musicologist. In June 2006 he was honoured in H. M. the Queen’s Birthday Honours List with an MBE for services to the Arts.-Education:...
- 1999 - Oliver Mantell
- 2000 - Christopher Simons
- 2001 - Alex Runchman
- 2002 - Lamar Mitchell
- 2003 - Sarah Hesketh
- 2005 - Michael Donkor
- 2006 - Vidyan Ravinthiran, Jonathan Taylor
- 2006 Michaelmas Term - Paul Thomas Abbott, Julia Buxton
- 2007 Trinity Term - Amy Cutler
- 2007 Hilary Term - Rachel Piercey
- 2007 Michaelmas Term - Chloe Stopa-Hunt
- 2008 Hilary Term - Sophie McGrath
- 2008 Trinity Term - Clare Gardom
- 2008 Michaelmas Term-2009 Trinity Term - Laura Marsh
- 2009 Michaelmas Term - Caroline Bird
- 2010 Hilary Term-Trinity Term - Tess Somervell
External links
- OUPS Facebook page (includes events, etc.)