Carol Ann Duffy backs Cheshire's Poems in Waiting
3rd February 2010
A project in the north-west to encourage people to read more poetry has received the support of Carol Ann Duffy and other prestigious writers.
The Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage and Michael Symmons Roberts are among the writers backing the Poems in Waiting scheme which was established by Crewe businessman Bob Doughty, according to reports in the Crewe Chronicle.
Under the initiative, posters which contain works from new and established poets will be displayed in Cheshire health centre waiting rooms, while Mr Doughty hopes to attract funding to place the pictures on public transport and in other public areas.
He told the newspaper: 'I wanted to engage the general public with poetry and decided the best way to do that was to provide a brief insight into the meaning behind certain poems.'
Mr Doughty believes the posters, which feature artwork hinting at the meaning of the verses, could cause people to think more about poetry.
Last weekend, Duffy helped stage the Poetry Live For Haiti event in London's Central Hall, which raised funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee.