Jen Hadfield has just won the TS Eliot award for best collection of 2008! Congratulations! Jen did a magnificent upbeat reading at the Purcell Room to a huge audience on the Southbank. The prize was then announced at the oak-paneled Skinners Hall in the City, complete with chandeliers, galleries, rotunda and paintings, the following night. Valerie Eliot dressed in carmine handed over the check and it was a night to remember!
On the previous evening all ten poets had read from their books excepting Mark Doty who could not come so Nick Laird read in his place and Mick Imlah who was too ill to. Sadly Mick died the next day. Andrew Motion gave a very moving and inspired speech. They were long friends and Mick will be missed in the poetry world.
Moniza Alvi did a stunning reading from Europa and Maura Dooley also. I was very proud and happy to have been there. Saw some delightful friends and enjoyed meeting new ones.
Once a year it is quite an occasion and it is probably the most important poetry prize in the UK.
So Jen to you the youngest poet to win and may you keep up the great work!
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