Carlisle man could be the next Poet Laureate

By Aaron Wilson

One of Carlisle’s very own poets Jacob Polley is tipped to be the next poet Laureate. Jacob, 33, who is short listed for Poet Laureate and also Oxford Professor of Poetry will learn if he is successful in either appointment later this year.

The former Caldew school pupil was well known in the county as the News and Star Poet in residence. He has won many prestigious awards such as the Radio 4/Arts council “First Verse” award and the Eric Gregory award as well.

With Andrew Motion stepping down from his position as Poet Laureate after ten years and Christopher Ricks moving on from the post of Professor of Poetry, both roles could be filled by our own Jacob Polley.

If he is to take up the role of Poet Laureate he will join such famous poets as John Dryden, Lord Tennyson, Sir John Betjeman and the Lake District’s own William Wordsworth.

The Poet Laureate receives an annual honorarium of £3,750 from the government with extra for visiting schools and also a butt of canary (a cask of sherry) a gift from the people of Spain. And the prestigious task of writing verse for the Queen.

Also the Oxford Professor of Poetry receives a stipend of £6,901 plus £40 every time they give a lecture.

For the post of Poet Laureate the Culture Minister Andy Burnham will consult 40 academics as well as literary organisations and he will then put the recommendations to the Prime Minister who will submit the names for approval by the Queen.

Candidates for the Oxford Professor of Poetry must be nominated by at least 12 members of the university’s graduate body known as the Convocation. If there is more than one candidate members of the Convocation will vote for a winner on May 16.

With Jacob Polley being Carlisle’s shining light for either post there is stiff competition from other poet’s and established writes which include Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage, Banjamin Zephaniah, Wendy Cope, and Anne Carson. There are a fair few names on the list for either job and there is many more on the list but as it has been rumoured the pressure is on for Jacob as the Queen is on for appointing a woman for the first time since 1668.


The appointment of poet Laureate will be announced later in the year.