Stallworthy Poetry Prize Campaign Launch

The campaign seeks to endow the Jon Stallworthy Poetry Prize as a permanent tribute to Professor Stallworthy. The prize has been awarded each year since 2016 for the best poem in English verse, not exceeding 40 lines in length, and is open to all postgraduate students in Oxford. We now want to secure its future by creating a permanent endowment.

Jon Stallworthy was a much-loved tutor, scholar, and poet who was a Fellow of Wolfson between 1986 and his death in 2014. He was twice Acting President of the College. He won the university’s Newdigate Prize – for the best poem by an undergraduate student – in 1958, following in the footsteps of John Ruskin and Oscar Wilde. Now, with the Stallworthy Prize, graduate poets can be similarly celebrated and encouraged.

We are hoping to raise £75,000 to endow the prize. Thanks to the generosity of Old Possum's Practical Trust, the Derek Hill Foundation and many of Professor Stallworthy’s friends and admirers, we have so far raised £50,000.

The launch party celebrated Jon Stallworthy’s life and legacy, with reminiscences from his lifelong friend Sir Richard Sorabji and from his student and colleague Elleke Boehmer, and with readings of his poems from Julie Curtis and Dame Hermione Lee. Sir Tim Hitchens concluded the evening with thanks for all the generous donations made so far.

To find out more about the Jon Stallworthy Poetry Prize campaign and to make a contribution, please visit our Campaign Website.