Tower Poetry: Recent Episodes
Oxford University
Tower Poetry is an organization based at Christ Church, University of Oxford, which offers opportunities and resources for young British poets.
Tower Poetry exists to encourage and challenge everyone who reads or writes poetry. Established following a bequest to Christ Church, Oxford, by the late Christopher Tower, the aims of Tower Poetry are clear: to stimulate an enjoyment and critical appreciation of poetry, particularly among young people in education, and to encourage people to write their own poetry.
By developing the roles of poetry in education and enabling new poets to showcase their talents through a series of exciting initiatives ranging from courses, competitions and workshops to readings and publications, Christ Church and the University of Oxford fosters the creative potential of young writers.
Peter McDonald, Vahni Capildeo and Sarah Howe discuss the 2017 Tower Poetry competition. Tower Poetry started in 2000 when a generous bequest to Christ Church, University of Oxford was made by the late Christopher Tower to stimulate an enjoyment and critical appreciation of poetry, particularly among young people in education, and to challenge people to write their own poetry.
Annie Fan, second prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem Qianling Stele.
Ella Standage, first prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem rosetta.
Freya Gray Stone, commended prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem I am a river.
Flora Barber, commended prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem Snowdrops.
Rachel Oyawale, third prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem If I Gave You a Stone.
Sofia Al-Hussaini, commended prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem The Millstone.
Find out more about the Tower Poetry Summer School - 2012 tutor, Alan Gillis, talks to participant, Camille Ralphs about the value of the summer school and how approachable it is.
Ashani Lewis (winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition) talks to one of the judges, Katherine Rundell, about how it feels to have won first prize.
Ashani Lewis (winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition) talks to one of the judges, Katherine Rundell, about the experience of winning in 2016.
Ashani Lewis (winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition) talks to one of the judges, Katherine Rundell, about how she went from being unplaced in the 2015 competition to winning in 2016.
Ashani Lewis (winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition) talks to one of the judges, Katherine Rundell, about she went from being unplaced in the 2015 competition to winning in 2016.
Ashani Lewis (winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition) talks to one of the judges, Katherine Rundell, about how she went from being unplaced in the 2015 competition to winning in 2016.
Commended winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Ed Pryor, reads his poem 'Driving Lesson'.
Commended winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Natasha Blinder, reads her poem 'Nine Days'
Commended winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Sophia West, reads her poem 'The Awakening'.
Commended winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Grace Fraser, reads her poem 'UFO Beach Abduction'.
Winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Ashani Lewis, reads her poem 'Flowers From The Dark'
Winner of the 2015 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Isla Anderson, reads her poem 'The Forensics of Salt-Licking'.
Second prizewinner of the 2015 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Max Thomas, reads 'Fusion'.
Third prizewinner of the 2015 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Lewis Harrington, reads his poem 'Firewood'.
Commended winner of the 2015 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Matt Ward, reads 'Purblind'.
Commended winner of the 2015 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Andrew Wells, reads 'Closed Door'.
Runner up to the 2014 Tower Poetry competition, Phoebe Stuckes, reads her poem, 'Schiamachy'.
Runner up to the 2014 Tower Poetry competition, Jessica Matthews, reads her poem 'Current Affairs'.
Runner up to the 2014 Tower Poetry competition, Alexander Shaw, reads his poem, 'How to Prepare for Bad News'.
Third Prize winner of the 2014 Tower Poetry competition, Masha Voyles, reads her poem, 'Bat Child Found!'
Second Prize winner of the 2014 Tower Poetry competition, Sam Buckton, reads his poem 'Hell-of-an Island'.
Winner of the 2014 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition, Dominic Hand, reads his poem entitles 'Annunciation'.
Molly Underwood reads her entry for the 2011 Tower Poetry competition, The Breaking Day.
Kathryn Grant, the Christopher Tower Poetry Administrator, introduces the 2010 Tower Poetry Competition entries.
Emily Harrison reads her entry for the 2010 Tower Poetry Competition 'Love has No Larynx'.
Julia Goroszeniuk reads her poem 'A Portrait Painted Scarfless', her entry for the 2010 Tower Poetry Competition.
Kathryn Grant, the Christopher Tower Poetry Administrator, introduces the 2009 Tower Poetry Competition entries.
Second Prize winning poem for the 2009 Christopher Tower Poetry Prize Competition, written and read by Iona Twistan-Davies of Matthew Arnold School, Oxford.
Third Prize winning poem in the 2009 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Paul Merchant of Tonbridge School, Kent.
Runner-up poem in the 2009 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Sophie Stephenson-Wright of St Paul’s Girls’ School, London.
Runner-up poem in the 2009 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Emma Jourdan of St Paul’s Girls’ School, London.
Runner-up poem in the 2009 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Bethany Aitman of St Paul's Girls School, London.
A pdf file of all shortlisted entries for the 2008 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition.
Runner-up poem in the 2008 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Charlotte Geater of Northgate High School, Ipswich, Suffolk.
Runner-up poem in the 2008 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Anna Savory of Fort Pitt Grammar School, Chatham, Kent.
Runner-up poem in the 2008 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Amelia Penny of South Hampshire High School, London.
Runner-up poem in the 2008 Christopher Tower Poetry Prize competition, written and read by Richard O’Brien of the Bourne Grammar School, Lincolnshire.
Second Prize winning poem for the 2008 Christopher Tower Poetry Prize Competition, written and read by Ashley McMullen of The Sixth Form College, Colchester, Essex.
First Prize winning poem for the 2008 Christopher Tower Poetry Prizes Competition written and read by Emily Middleton, The King’s School, Macclesfield, Cheshire.