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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.
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| # | Episode Title | Description | People | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Tower Poetry 2017 | Peter McDonald, Vahni Capildeo and Sarah Howe discuss the 2017 Tower Poetry competition. | Peter McDonald, Vahni Capildeo, Sarah Howe | 17 May 2017 | |
| 60 | Tower Poetry 2017: Qianling Stele' | Annie Fan, second prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem Qianling Stele. | Annie Fan | 16 May 2017 | |
| 59 | Tower Poetry 2017: rosetta | Ella Standage, first prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem rosetta. | Ella Standage | 16 May 2017 | |
| 58 | Tower Poetry 2017: I am a river | Freya Gray Stone, commended prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem I am a river. | Freya Gray Stone | 16 May 2017 | |
| 57 | Tower Poetry 2017: Snowdrops | Flora Barber, commended prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem Snowdrops. | Flora Barber | 16 May 2017 | |
| 56 | Tower 2017: If I Gave You a Stone | Rachel Oyawale, third prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem If I Gave You a Stone. | Rachel Oyawale | 16 May 2017 | |
| 55 | Tower Poetry 2017: The Millstone | Sofia Al-Hussaini, commended prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem The Millstone. | Sofia Al-Hussaini | 16 May 2017 | |
| 54 | Creative Commons | About the Tower Poetry Summer School | 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. | Alan Gillis, Camille Ralphs | 17 Jun 2016 |
| 53 | Creative Commons | So, how does it feel to win? | 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, Katherine Rundell | 17 Jun 2016 |
| 52 | Creative Commons | The most amazing experience | 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, Katherine Rundell | 17 Jun 2016 |
| 51 | Creative Commons | 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. | Ashani Lewis, Katherine Rundell | 17 Jun 2016 |
| 50 | Creative Commons | Let the poem come to you | 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, Katherine Rundell | 17 Jun 2016 |
| 49 | Creative Commons | If at first you don't succeed' | 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. | Katherine Rundell, Ashani Lewis | 17 Jun 2016 |
| 48 | Creative Commons | Tower Poetry 2016: Driving Lesson | Commended winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Ed Pryor, reads his poem 'Driving Lesson'. | Ed Pryor | 17 Jun 2016 |
| 47 | Creative Commons | Tower Poetry 2016: Nine Days | Commended winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Natasha Blinder, reads her poem 'Nine Days' | Natasha Blinder | 17 Jun 2016 |
| 46 | Creative Commons | Tower Poetry 2016: The Awakening | Commended winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Sophia West, reads her poem 'The Awakening'. | Sophia West | 17 Jun 2016 |
| 45 | Creative Commons | Tower Poetry 2016: UFO Beach Abduction | Commended winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Grace Fraser, reads her poem 'UFO Beach Abduction'. | Grace Fraser | 17 Jun 2016 |
| 44 | Creative Commons | Tower Poetry 2016: Flowers From The Dark | Winner of the 2016 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Ashani Lewis, reads her poem 'Flowers From The Dark' | Ashani Lewis | 17 Jun 2016 |
| 43 | Tower Poetry 2015: The Forensics of Salt-Licking | Winner of the 2015 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Isla Anderson, reads her poem 'The Forensics of Salt-Licking'. | Isla Anderson | 14 May 2015 | |
| 42 | Tower Poetry 2015: Fusion | Second prizewinner of the 2015 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Max Thomas, reads 'Fusion'. | Max Thomas | 14 May 2015 | |
| 41 | Tower Poetry 2015: Firewood | Third prizewinner of the 2015 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Lewis Harrington, reads his poem 'Firewood'. | Lewis Harrington | 14 May 2015 | |
| 40 | Tower Poetry 2015: Purblind | Commended winner of the 2015 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Matt Ward, reads 'Purblind'. | Matt Ward | 14 May 2015 | |
| 39 | Tower Poetry 2015: Closed Door | Commended winner of the 2015 Christopher Tower Poetry competition, Andrew Wells, reads 'Closed Door'. | Andrew Wells | 14 May 2015 | |
| 38 | Tower Poetry 2014: Schiamachy | Runner up to the 2014 Tower Poetry competition, Phoebe Stuckes, reads her poem, 'Schiamachy'. | Phoebe Stuckes | 03 Jun 2014 | |
| 37 | Tower Poetry 2014: Current Affairs | Runner up to the 2014 Tower Poetry competition, Jessica Matthews, reads her poem 'Current Affairs'. | Jessica Matthews | 03 Jun 2014 | |
| 36 | Creative Commons | Tower Poetry 2014: Voyager | Runner up to the 2014 Tower Poetry competition, Charlie Holmes, 'Voyager'. | Charlie Holmes | 03 Jun 2014 |
| 35 | Tower Poetry 2014: How to Prepare for Bad News | Runner up to the 2014 Tower Poetry competition, Alexander Shaw, reads his poem, 'How to Prepare for Bad News'. | Alexander Shaw | 03 Jun 2014 | |
| 34 | Tower Poetry 2014: Bat Child Found! | Third Prize winner of the 2014 Tower Poetry competition, Masha Voyles, reads her poem, 'Bat Child Found!' | Masha Voyles | 03 Jun 2014 | |
| 33 | Creative Commons | Tower Poetry 2014: Hell-of-an Island | Second Prize winner of the 2014 Tower Poetry competition, Sam Buckton, reads his poem 'Hell-of-an Island'. | Sam Buckton | 03 Jun 2014 |
| 32 | Creative Commons | Tower Poetry 2014: Annunciation | Winner of the 2014 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition, Dominic Hand, reads his poem entitles 'Annunciation'. | Dominic Hand | 03 Jun 2014 |
| 31 | Tower Poetry 2013: Research | Luke van den Barselaar reads his entry for the 2013 Tower Poetry Competition. | Luke van den Barselaar | 10 Jul 2013 | |
| 30 | Creative Commons | Tower Poetry 2013: Swimming in Loch Suili; The Lake of Shadows | Eva Wallace reads her entry for the 2013 Tower Poetry Competition. | Eva Wallace | 10 Jul 2013 |
| 29 | Creative Commons | Tower Poetry 2013: The Devil | Erin Tunney reads her entry to the 2013 Tower Poetry Competition. | Erin Tunney | 10 Jul 2013 |
| 28 | Creative Commons | Tower Poetry 2013: Investigation Details; Echo and Narcissus | Kathryn Cussons reads her entry to the 2013 Tower Poetry competition. | Kathryn Cussons | 10 Jul 2013 |
| 27 | Creative Commons | Tower Poetry 2013: Origins | Azfa Ali reads her entry to the 2013 Tower Poetry Competition. | Azfa Ali | 10 Jul 2013 |
| 26 | Tower Poetry 2012: Maiden Voyage | Millie Guille reads her entry to the 2012 Tower Poetry Competition. | Millie Guille | 08 May 2012 | |
| 25 | Tower Poetry 2012: The Sirens Tell Their Tale | Hannah Tran reads her entry to the 2012 Tower Poetry Competition. | Hannah Tran | 08 May 2012 | |
| 24 | Tower Poetry 2012: Papa's Epilogue | Sarah Fletcher reads her entry for the 2012 Tower Poetry Competition. | Sarah Fletcher | 08 May 2012 | |
| 23 | Tower Poetry 2012: Postcards | Lucy Hely-Hutchinson reads her entry for the 2012 Tower Poetry Competition. | Lucy Hely-Hutchinson | 08 May 2012 | |
| 22 | Tower Poetry 2012: Balloon Song | Bethan Smith reads her entry for the 2012 Tower Poetry Competition. | Bethan Smith | 08 May 2012 | |
| 21 | Tower Poetry 2011 Wires | Elizabeth Johnson, winner of the 2011 Tower Poetry Competition, reads her poem Wires. | Elizabeth Johnson | 03 Oct 2011 | |
| 20 | Tower Poetry 2011 Simple | Abigail Richards reads her entry for the 2011 Tower Poetry competition. Simple. | Abigail Richards | 03 Oct 2011 | |
| 19 | Tower Poetry 2011 The Breaking Day | Molly Underwood reads her entry for the 2011 Tower Poetry competition, The Breaking Day. | Molly Underwood | 03 Oct 2011 | |
| 18 | Tower Poetry 2010 - Introduction | Kathryn Grant, the Christopher Tower Poetry Administrator, introduces the 2010 Tower Poetry Competition entries. | Kathryn Grant | 14 Jun 2010 | |
| 17 | Tower Poetry 2010 Love has no Larynx | Emily Harrison reads her entry for the 2010 Tower Poetry Competition 'Love has No Larynx'. | Emily Harrison | 14 Jun 2010 | |
| 16 | Tower Poetry 2010 A Portait Painted Scarfless | Julia Goroszeniuk reads her poem 'A Portrait Painted Scarfless', her entry for the 2010 Tower Poetry Competition. | Julia Goroszeniuk | 14 Jun 2010 | |
| 15 | Tower Poetry 2010 Selkie | Katie Woods reads her poem 'Selkie', her entry for the 2010 Tower Poetry Competition. | Katie Woods | 14 Jun 2010 | |
| 14 | Tower Poetry 2010 Sign Language | Hugo Havranek reads his poem 'Sign Language' for the 2010 Tower Poetry Competition. | Hugo Havranek | 14 Jun 2010 | |
| 13 | Tower Poetry 2009: Introduction | Kathryn Grant, the Christopher Tower Poetry Administrator, introduces the 2009 Tower Poetry Competition entries. | Kathryn Grant | 01 Oct 2009 | |
| 12 | Tower Poetry 2009: Grey Mile | Second Prize winning poem for the 2009 Christopher Tower Poetry Prize Competition, written and read by Iona Twistan-Davies of Matthew Arnold School, Oxford. | Iona Twistan-Davies | 24 Sep 2009 | |
| 11 | Tower Poetry 2009: Three Guesses | Third Prize winning poem in the 2009 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Paul Merchant of Tonbridge School, Kent. | Paul Merchant | 24 Sep 2009 | |
| 10 | Tower Poetry 2009: Villanelle | Runner-up poem in the 2009 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Sophie Stephenson-Wright of St Paul’s Girls’ School, London. | Sophie Stephenson-Wright | 24 Sep 2009 | |
| 9 | Tower Poetry 2009: Evidence | Runner-up poem in the 2009 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Emma Jourdan of St Paul’s Girls’ School, London. | Emma Jourdan | 24 Sep 2009 | |
| 8 | Tower Poetry 2009: Contact | Runner-up poem in the 2009 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Bethany Aitman of St Paul's Girls School, London. | Bethany Aitman | 24 Sep 2009 | |
| 7 | Tower Poetry 2008: PDF of all shortlisted entries | A pdf file of all shortlisted entries for the 2008 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition. | University of Oxford | 09 Jun 2009 | |
| 6 | Tower Poetry 2008: We Beasts | Runner-up poem in the 2008 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Charlotte Geater of Northgate High School, Ipswich, Suffolk. | Charlotte Geater | 08 Jun 2009 | |
| 5 | Tower Poetry 2008: Sestina 102 ; 26 | Runner-up poem in the 2008 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Anna Savory of Fort Pitt Grammar School, Chatham, Kent. | Anna Savory | 08 Jun 2009 | |
| 4 | Tower Poetry 2008: Quickening | Runner-up poem in the 2008 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition written and read by Amelia Penny of South Hampshire High School, London. | Amelia Penny | 08 Jun 2009 | |
| 3 | Tower Poetry 2008: Texting In Church | Runner-up poem in the 2008 Christopher Tower Poetry Prize competition, written and read by Richard O’Brien of the Bourne Grammar School, Lincolnshire. | Richard O’Brien | 08 Jun 2009 | |
| 2 | Tower Poetry 2008: Journey to Hilly Country | 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. | Ashley McMullin | 08 Jun 2009 | |
| 1 | Tower Poetry 2008: The Five Stages | First Prize winning poem for the 2008 Christopher Tower Poetry Prizes Competition written and read by Emily Middleton, The King’s School, Macclesfield, Cheshire. | Emily Middleton | 08 Jun 2009 |