Last chance to enter poetry contest in Gazette man Terry's memory

Terry Kelly was a hugely-respected journalist who covered Jarrow, Hebburn and the business sector for the Gazette for many years.

He died in January aged 57 after battling a virus for 14 months.

Terry was a published poet and a contributor to the Larkin Society and a member of the Literature and Philosophical Society in Newcastle.

To honour Terry, the Customs House launched the Terry Kelly Poetry Prize for Young Writers as part of its annual Takeover Festival.

The arts festival organised by 15 to 25 year olds, showcases work by young creators and developing the skills and talents of young people interested in the arts.

The poetry competition is open to poets aged ten to 25. Poems can be on any theme and be of any length, but only one poem per person can be submitted and entries must be sent by midnight on Friday, May 13.

Judging the entries will be Ray Spencer, executive director of the Customs House, the Gazette’s editor Joy Yates and Terry’s playwright and poet brother Tom Kelly.

Daniel Clifford, cultural development officer at the Customs House, said: “The poetry competition will play a big and important part in our Takeover Festival and is a good way of paying tribute to someone who worked so hard and for so long for he South Tyneside community. We’ve had some good entries in already, but we’d like to see some more.”

Send entries to [email protected].