Prizes mark centenary of great Scottish poet

THE 21st annual Wigtown Poetry Prizes have been launched – with a panel of judges featuring leading lights in the world of Scottish poetry and literature. This year’s awards are all the more special as 2026 is the centenary of the birth of the celebrated Scottish poet Alastair Reid, to whose life and work one of the prizes is dedicated. The £1500 Wigtown International Prize attracts entries from across the globe, with past winners and finalists coming from as far afield as Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Ireland, the USA. The Scots and Scottish Gaelic prizes also attract submissions from many parts of the world – some from Scots living overseas, others from people with Scottish roots and others by writers with a love for and interest in the country. While most poetry prizes are for single pieces of writing, the Alastair Reid Pamphlet Prize allows poets to enter a whole body of work. This year’s panel of judges includes Ruth Padel, Niall Gallagher, Rab Wilson and Marjorie Lotfi. Nicholas Walker, above, Wigtown Poetry Prize group chair, said: “It’s a proud moment for us to be able to launch the 21st annual Wigtown Poetry Prizes, especially as this is the centenary of Alastair Reid, a truly great Scottish poet born in nearby Whithorn. “It’s not just Reid’s brilliance as a poet that makes him significant, it’s also his international outlook, his love of other cultures and ideas, and his passion for creativity and the written word. “Reid’s sense of curiosity and delight in different ideas and ways of thinking is a beacon in increasingly dark times. “Poetry has an unparalleled ability to explore and share ideas, emotions and experiences. “We are all looking forward to reading this year’s entries which we have no doubts will be an impressively rich mix of themes and perspectives.” Entries close on May 6 and the prizes will be awarded during the annual Wigtown Book Festival in September. Full details at www.wigtownpoetryprize.com Pic by Colin Hattersley