Winners of the Crysse Morrison Prize for Poetry awarded

The winners of this year’s Crysse Morrison Prize for Poetry, which runs as part of the Frome Festival, have been announced. 

The annual poetry competition saw a record 117 entries from both local and national poets. It is held in honour of the late Crysse Morrison, a Frome resident best known for her prolific writing.

Co-chair of Frome Festival and organiser of the competition, Rosie Eliot, said the submissions were ‘exceptionally high’ this year, with entries coming from in and around the Frome area.

The overall winner of the competition was Glen Wilson, a Northern Ireland-based poet, who wrote a powerful and moving poem entitled Barium Swallow. Glen’s poem was selected by acclaimed poet, playwright and broadcaster Luke Wright.

“I am overjoyed to have won,” said Glen. “This poem allowed me to explore vulnerability in a deeply personal way and I’m glad that the judge, the brilliant Luke Wright, chose it for the top prize! My thanks to everyone at Frome Festival, and also to Christina Oswin for the exquisite silver quill tie pin – I look forward to wearing it out soon.”

Second place went to Frome-based poet Nat Taplin for his vivid and sensory piece entitled Marmalade.

Third place was awarded to Patricia Minson, from Cornwall, for Catherine in Heels, a clever and affecting personification of the gentrification of Frome’s iconic Catherine Hill.

The Local Prize went to Frome resident Tracey Rawlins for In Care, a moving poem inspired by her foster children and a promise made to Crysse Morrison shortly before her passing.

“One of my last chats with Crysse was about writing,” said Tracey. “She encouraged me to start and I promised I would. I was on a train coming home from Paris, we had taken the foster children to Disneyland, and I was thinking how far they’d come since that first day, arriving confused and fearful. I wrote about that experience from their perspective during the journey.

“The prize evening was a lovely experience. I felt rather overwhelmed by all the talented poets and really out of my comfort zone. I was completely floored by how well it was received and could see many people wiping their eyes. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it and to help people perhaps stop and think what it must be like to be a foster child in care.”

Frome Festival director, Adam Laughton, said, “It was a delight to see such a strong response to this year’s Poetry Prize once again – the poets’ creativity and skill shone through their work. It was wonderful to collaborate with Dirty Laundry Poetry for the prize-giving event, where Crysse’s legacy continued to shine through an evening of wit and wisdom.”

Hosted at the Merlin Theatre, the prize was celebrated in collaboration with Dirty Laundry Poetry as part of their Summer Special, themed Threads of Fate.

The event featured readings of the winning poems, a lively open mic, and a brand-new audience segment, Secrets in Socks, which added laughter and poignancy in equal measure. Over 150 guests attended what host Olly Davy described as “a nourishing evening of connection and chemistry,” adding, “this moving and life-affirming celebration of language and truth was a wonderful opportunity to honour Crysse Morrison, who lit up the town and inspired the creation of Dirty Laundry.”

Winning poems are available to read on the Frome Festival website: https://fromefestival.co.uk/cryssepoetry2025/

Pictures by Tori Allison FWP