LIFE in Wantage could soon be told in rhyme and verse as the town wants to appoint a poet laureate.

Wantage Town Council hopes to install the position later this year in time for a new celebration of the town’s most famous poet, in the first John Betjeman Festival in September.

Council member Jenny Hannaby said: “I thought it would a very light-hearted but good thing for Wantage.

“We did have Betjeman and we have a number of talented poets around. And everybody enjoys some poetry.

“Each town has sad things and happy things happen and it would be good to have a poet laureate to record these events.

“It will be an extra bit of history for the town to carry on with its traditional history of poets and writers. Who knows, we might discover another John Betjeman.”

Town councillor Bryan Armitage added: “It just seemed like quite a nice idea to have someone write something that is local to the area.

“It is really to help to make Wantage rather special and give it a bit of character.”

Town mayor Jim Sibbald said: “It is something the council is looking forward to doing. But they will not get paid. In the tradition of the poet laureate, they do it for the prestige.”

Sir John Betjeman, a former poet laureate, lived in the town from 1951 to 1972, and the Betjeman Festival will take place from September 11-16.

The event will include readings of his poetry, along with theatre, music and film in venues across the town.

Jim Mitchell, artistic director of the John Betjeman Society, said: “I would welcome anything that raises the profile of poetry and can bring it to life.”

Sir John wrote two poems about Wantage, Wantage Bells and On Leaving Wantage. He also wrote a book called Archie and the Strict Baptist, which is set in the town.

David Child, 51, a poet from Shannon Close, Grove, said: “Everyone of any age should be encouraged to write and read poetry, especially in Oxfordshire as we have a tradition of literature.”

Mike Jones, chairman of Wantage Poetry Club, said: “It certainly would be an interesting experiment.”

The idea will need to approved by the council’s summer festival committee.

l Send your poems to news@oxfordmail.co.uk