Tony Hillier says poetry is making a comeback Ref: 78248-61SWINDON...AND PROUD OF IT: FANS of poetry are being offered the chance to vote for the rhyme they would most like to see sent in to space.

The competition comes as Swindon gets set to celebrate National Poetry Day, on Thursday October 6.

This year's theme is the future and the National Poetry Society is launching a scheme to get people to nominate the poems that they would like to send in to space, to be read in 100 years time.

The idea marks the twelfth annual celebration of National Poetry Day.

Famous faces have already got in on the act with Poet Laureate Andrew Motion nominating The Star by George Herbert, Stephen Fry recommending Robert Frost's Accidentally on Purpose and poet Ian McMillan proposing the opening of Basil Bunting's Briggflatts.

And local poetry enthusiast, Tony Hillier, who once penned a piece about the Swindon Advertiser after spending a day in the newsroom, urged people in Swindon to join in.

He said: "Poetry is working today more than it ever has done. It gives voice to people's thoughts and feelings.

The winning poem will be displayed for all to see at the National Space Centre in Leicester on October 6.

And Mr Hillier, a member of Swindon's poetry club, the Pulsar poetry society, added: "Poetry has come of its time again.

"It offers pearls of wisdom that today's soundbite society can really appreciate and under-stand."

Matt Holland, organiser of the annual Swindon Festival of Literature, which this year sent a poet around the town and paid people £1 to listen to him, said: "I'm very pleased that there is a national poetry day.

"The interesting thing is that in terms of sales poetry books do the worst but in every birthday card, Christmas card and at times of loss or lament people turn to poetry.

"One of my aims with the literature festival has always been to rectify that and introduce more and more people to poetry."

The Pulsar group, which meets regularly to share their insights and creative words at various pubs around Swindon, is hoping to hold a range of events around the town to celebrate National Poetry Day on October 6.

For more information and to find out how to join, go online at www.pulsarpoetry.com.

To vote in the poem for space competition go online to www.poertysociety.org.uk.

Gareth Bethell