First World War poem claims first prize in competition

A POIGNANT poem about a First World War veteran has won Sheila Templeton the first prize of £750 in this year’s James McCash Scots Poetry Competition.

This is the second time the Glasgow-based poet has won the top prize in the competi- tion, run jointly by The Her ald and Glasgow University.

There were more than 120 responses to this year’s theme, “Now then”.

Entries came from as far as New York and India, though the overwhelming number were from various parts of Scotland.

The judges – Professor Alan Riach, of the chairman of Scottish Literature at Glasgow University, Dr Kirsteen McCue, joint director of the university’s Centre for Robert Burns Studies, and Lesley Duncan, The Herald’s poetry editor – were impressed not only by the literary quality of the best entries, but by the vigour and confidence with which the Scottish language in its various forms was used.

Two poets share the runner-up prize – Rab Wilson of New Cumnock, Ayrshire, himself a former first-prize winner, and John Brewster of St Monans, Fife.

Three prizes of £150 were awarded to Donald Adamson, of Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway; Eunice Buchanan of Arbroath, Angus; and William Hershaw, of Lochgelly, Fife.

The prize list was completed with £100 going to Rosaleen Orr, of Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, and George Watt, of Dundee.

A selection of the top poems will run this week in the daily poem space in The Herald’s obituaries page, starting today.