A student has been named as the winner of one of Britain’s leading poetry competitions in the centenary year of the Cornishman in whose honour the event is named.

Jack Thacker has been announced as the winner of this year’s Charles Causley International Poetry Competition for his poem The Load.

2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the great Cornish poet, who lived most of his life in Launceston.

The Charles Causley Trust, which runs the competition, said there was a ‘considerable increase’ in the number of international entries. The head judge is former poet laureate Sir Andrew Motion.

The Trust will welcome Jack to Cyprus Well, Causley’s former home in Launceston, for a week long residency to work on his writing and explore North Cornwall. 

A wealth of celebratory events and activities are planned to commemorate Causley’s life and work in his centenary year and to encourage the continued appreciation and creation of poetry and literature. 

Jack’s poem, and the other prize-winning and highly commended works, are all available on the Trust’s website www.thecharlescausleytrust.org