Herts graduate wins prestigious Eric Gregory Award

Katie O’Pray (pictured front row, second from right), a poet, performer, and freelance facilitator based in Bedfordshire, graduated from the University in 2022 with a degree in English Language and Communication with Creative Writing. Their debut poetry collection, Apricot, published by Out-Spoken Press in 2022, earned the award and joins other powerful young voices shaping contemporary poetry in the UK.

The Eric Gregory Awards, established in 1960 by Dr Eric Gregory, are administered by the Society of Authors. They recognise and support emerging poets, offering each winner a writing residency in the scenic Lake District and publication opportunities including a feature in Poetry London.

Katie said: “Receiving an Eric Gregory Award has evoked an enormous sense of pride - which I'll undoubtedly feel ripples of for years to come. It represents not only meaningful recognition of my work and development thus far, but material support for the continuation and expansion of this work. It’s surreal, and incredibly fulfilling, to join the list of winners – a catalogue of formidable poets I've admired throughout my career.

“I would encourage students on similar paths to make the most of their time including at seminars, learning from peers, tutor feedback, reading recommendations, tutorials, industry advice, and expert teaching. It’s also important to engage with writing outside of your degree, with whole writing communities to connect with and learn from”.

Katie’s work has previously been recognised by the National Poetry Competition, the Manchester Writing Competition, Magma Poetry Competition, and the Oxford Brookes International Poetry Competition. Their poetry explores themes of expression, connection, and wellbeing, often informed from experience from their advocacy and voluntary work in children’s Speech and Language Therapy with Cambridge Community Services.

In addition to writing, Katie runs poetry workshops on a freelance basis for organisations such as CAMHS, English Heritage, CRIPtic Arts, QUEERCIRCLE, and MK Lit Fest, helping others harness the power of language for self-expression and mental wellbeing.

Dr Stephen Partridge, Dean of the School of Creative Arts, said:

“We are incredibly proud of Katie’s achievement in receiving an Eric Gregory Award – a prestigious recognition of poetic talent and creative promise. Katie’s work exemplifies the power of language to move, connect, and inspire, and their success is a testament to their dedication, originality, and the vibrant creative community we foster at the University of Hertfordshire. We look forward to seeing how their voice continues to shape the future of contemporary poetry.”

The University of Hertfordshire offers postgraduate courses in English and Creative Writing.