The Pinter Poem – an award for poets in prison
“Poetry was central to the life of Harold Pinter and thus became central to our life together,” writes Antonia Fraser, widow of the Nobel Prize-winning playwright and poet (the couple are pictured above, on their wedding day). In his memory, and as Frank Longford’s daughter, she has established the Pinter Poem award. “As an actor, Harold particularly enjoyed reading poetry aloud. In this way, we often read from the poems printed in Inside Time. This lead to discussions about poetry, prisoners and what part writing poems might play in their lives.”
The 2024 Pinter Poem – “Welcome to the Scrubs Hotel”, written by anonymous poet who signs themselves simply as R – was read aloud at the conclusion of our 2024 Longford Lecture by the actor Jenny Agutter, whose credits range from The Railway Children to Call The Midwife. Read the 2024 winning poem. If you want to watch and hear Jenny reading the poem, follow this link to a film of the lecture, and scroll to the final 10 minutes of the event.
2020 Pinter Poem
There was no Longford Lecture in 2020 because of the Covid lockdown, but a 2020 Pinter Poem was still chosen. “An odour was all it took” by Joe Gynane at HMP Whitemoor was read (right) by one of our most distinguished actors, Ralph Fiennes, and shared online.
An annual award
The Pinter Poem will be chosen on behalf of the Longford Trust from those published in Inside Time in the previous 12 months. The winner will be notified before their poem is read at the annual Longford Lecture in November (in 2024 by actress Jenny Agutter (right), and will receive prize money of £100.
“I had the inspiration that a prize for a Pinter Poem by a serving prisoner, selected by Inside Time, would be an appropriate way to salute Harold’s memory, his love of poetry, and the creative work of prisoners, all together.” Antonia Fraser
Read the poem that inspired Antonia here.