Felix Dawson crowned 2025 Fenland Poet Laureate

With 71 entries across two age categories, this year proved to be one of the hardest to judge, reflecting the depth and quality of writers across Fenland.

But at the awards ceremony at March Town Hall on Friday (21 March), it was Felix Dawson who was unanimously crowned Fenland Poet Laureate, for his inspirational poem 'I know what the fizmer says'.

And in the Young Fenland Poet Laureate category it was Isla Jackson, from Wisbech Grammar School, who took the title with her poem 'When', which demonstrated skill and insight well beyond her 15 years.

Read all the winning and shortlisted entries at: 2025 Fenland Poet Laureate Awards: Winners and shortlisted entries

Pictured at the Fenland Poet Laureate Awards are, from left, are March Mayor, Cllr Gary Christy; Cllr Elisabeth Sennitt Clough; shortlisted poet Matthew Gilbert; runner-up Toni Fell; third prize winner Paul Dance; shortlisted poet Catherine Blake; Fenland District Council Leader, Cllr Chris Boden; and 2024 Fenland Poet Laureate, Hannah Teasdale. Photo: Tim Chapman

The awards, which are recognised as one of the most prestigious literary accolades in Cambridgeshire, are organised by award-winning poet and Chair of Fenland District Council's Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee, Cllr Elisabeth Sennitt Clough, and Fenland District Council.

This year saw 34 submissions in the adult category and 37 in the Young Fenland Poet Laureate category, which is open to poets aged 17 and under.

The poems were shortlisted to six in each category by members of the Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee, and judged by Cllr Sennitt Clough and the outgoing 2024 Fenland Poet Laureate, Hannah Teasdale.

"Once again, it was an absolute delight to read the shortlisted entries", said Cllr Sennitt Clough. "Opening the anonymised folder of entries is like opening a treasure chest. It's so exciting not knowing what gems you'll find.

"The poems that really shone are the ones which evoked both a strong sense of place and a human emotional presence within that place. This year's shortlisted entries were overwhelmingly filled with original and sharply-observed detail in their carefully crafted lines. I found myself mumbling the word psychogeography many times - that sense of self being intrinsically linked to the environment. The two winning poems were a unanimous choice."

Felix Dawson

At the awards night, Hannah praised Felix's winning poem, 'I know what the fizmer says', saying it inspired her to look differently at the world and then push beyond the limitations of her own writing.

"The language this poet uses and their attention to sound made this poem linger in our ears," she said. "I adore a poem that is accessible in that it cleverly utilises everyday and familiar images and juxtaposes these with their specialist knowledge.

"A winning poem has to have an outstanding first and final couplet as well as a solid, well-crafted middle - and this poet strongly demonstrates their ability to deliver all of that - and more."

Unfortunately, Felix was unable to attend the award ceremony to accept his award but look out for his name and work in the months ahead!

2025 Fenland Poet Laureate Felix Dawson

Felix, who grew up in The Fens, said it was a pleasure to be named the 2025 Fenland Poet Laureate.

"As someone who works in conservation, my relationship to the land is a big part of my identity and I explore that connection through my work and through writing. It feels great to have that connection recognised in my poetry," he said.

"The poem itself is about that connection and is drawn from my memories of growing up in Fenland and my connection to all the people who did so before me."

Runner-up in the Fenland Poet Laureate Awards was Toni Fell, with her poem, 'Starter Home', which evoked a vivid image of the Fenland landscape and experiences of a young couple starting out in their first property.

The third prize winner was Paul Dance with his poem, 'Elysian Fields', a powerful piece of work about the environment and natural world.

Shortlisted poets were Matthew Gilbert, for 'I'm Home'; Betty Hasler, for 'Fen Road'; and Catherine Blake, for 'I say that I'm from Cambridge'.

Pictured with their awards are third prize winner Paul Dance and runner-up Toni Fell. Photo: Tim Chapman

Isla Jackson

In the Young Fenland Poet Laureate competition, it was Isla Jackson's poem 'When', about a child's powerlessness in the face of everything the world can throw at her, which stole the judge's hearts.

"This is a remarkable poem for a young person to have written," said Cllr Sennitt Clough.

"Not only is the poem elevated beyond a mere description of the Fen landscape by way of the poet's emotional connections, detailed at various stages of their childhood, the poet creates a psychogeography linking the poem intrinsically linked to the poet's environment."

2025 Young Fenland Poet Laureate Isla Jackson. Photo: Tim Chapman

Isla succeeds the 2024 Young Fenland Poet Laureate, Lacey Vinn, a student from Sir Harry Smith Community College in Whittlesey.

Second place went to Wisbech Grammar School student Meredith Killick for her poem, 'Nightime Mystery', which used vivid imagery to give the piece "a regal, mystical and almost fairytale life of its own".

Third place was awarded to fellow Wisbech Grammar School student Tilly Myers for her poem, 'SKYSCAPE', a partially rhyming piece which leaves the reader with "a beautiful and delicate image to linger in their mind".

Shortlisted poets were Luka Kant, for 'Fenland'; Shyla Brown, for 'Kindness'; and Lydia Shillings, for 'Four seasons stargazing'.

Pictured at the Fenland Poet Laureate Awards is winning 2025 Young Fenland Poet Laureate Isla Jackson (centre) with runner-up Meredith Killick (left) and third prize winner Tilly Myers (right). Photo: Tim Chapman

All the winners and runners-up received a trophy, sponsored by Clarion Futures, and have had their poems published in a Fenland Poet Laureate anthology.

The evening's guest of honour, Leader of Fenland District Council, Cllr Chris Boden, who gave a welcome address and closing remarks, said it was an honour to be part of such a wonderful event.

"Poetry is often underrated in terms of its importance and has a false impression of exclusivity," he said. "But we can find it in song lyrics, in football chants and many of us grew up with it as it's used to teach children through nursery rhymes. It exists all around us in our everyday lives...and is for everyone."

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March 2025