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 2025 Pinter Poem – “Give Em 5”, written by Les Walker at HMP Gartree, was read aloud at the conclusion of our 2025 Longford Lecture by poet, actor and former Longford Scholar Will Pendray, whose debut poetry collection Overgrown was published this year. Read the 2025 winning poem.
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 is 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 2025 by poet, actor and former Longford Scholar Will Pendray, 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.