Shrewsbury teenager Hazel is Shropshire's young poet laureate
Shropshire has a new young poet laureate. Hazel Rogers, 17, from Shrewsbury, scooped the accolade after beating off stiff competition from two other budding poets.
The Shrewsbury Sixth Form College student was named as the winner at Wenlock Poetry Festival. Judges praised Hazel for her style of writing and the professionalism of her performances.
They also loved the "deeply personal style" of Hazel's three poems, and above all, the quality of her recital performance.
Hazel is studying four A-levels in history, film studies, English literature and English language and hopes to go on to study English and drama at university from next year.
She said: "I've always loved poetry and have been writing my own poems for many years now but I never really expected my work to be recognised in this way. "
The accolade has already resulted in Hazel receiving the first commission of her tenure as poet laureate – the first, she hopes, of many.
Oliver Turner and Emma Fletcher, both 16, were also in the running for the title. Hazel takes over from Mia Cunningham.
