Hanover recognises literary talents at older persons poetry recital

Published by Rob Ghosh for Hanover Housing Group in Housing

A national retirement housing provider has awarded three students from the University of Brighton special accolades for taking part in a poetry competition specially designed to capture the lives of its older residents.

The competition has brought together students from the University of Brighton and residents from Hanover’s Patching Lodge on a collaboration of words of wisdom through real life stories. 

Patching Lodge resident 89 year -old Wallace-Burnett Smith said: “The poems the students have produced are very moving and powerful and we hope that our relationship with them will continue for years to come.

Jess Moriarty from the University of Brighton Said: “Students have found the project genuinely inspiring and uplifting, it has improved their communication and writing skills and helped them to think about their roles as positive citizens.

Despite stiff competition Danielle Young from Brighton was awarded the coveted first prize. Her poem titled Bingo captured the moment when Wallace and Jean Burnett - Smith first met students from the University of Brighton.

The competition poems are currently on display at Patching Lodge if anyone would like to visit please telephone 01273 680 744.”