To celebrate National Poetry Day, Royal Mail launched a special edition postbox in Stafford town centre, the childhood home town of poet laureate, Dame Carol Ann Duffy.

Students from St. Austin’s Catholic Primary School, which Carol Ann attended from 1962 - 1967, were invited to attend the launch and read some of her best loved poems, selected by the poet laureate herself.

The launch was attended by local MP, Jeremy Lefroy, and the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Stafford, who enjoyed listening to the children’s readings.

Situated in the Market Square, the postpox will be in place for just a month, and is adorned with quotes from some of Carol Ann’s most famous poems.

The postbox will be in full working order for the duration of its customisation.

Mark Street, Head of Campaigns at Royal Mail said: “As one of the guardians of the written word, we relish the opportunity to celebrate the work of Britain’s most treasured writers. Carol Ann Duffy’s poetry is studied by children across the UK, so it’s fantastic that children from her former primary school can join us in honouring her in this way.”

Carol Ann Duffy said: “I’m thrilled to have my poems in the Market Square, a place dear to my heart. And I’m delighted that children from St Austin’s will be involved - as this was the school where I was first encouraged to write poetry by the wonderful Mrs Tilscher.”

St Austin’s Catholic Primary School is holding an Open Evening on 24th October at 6pm for parents interested in enrolling their children.

Photo caption for group shot: left to right
Elliot Frost, Kondwani Nkhoma, Poppy Newman, Lucy Jones and Felix Fleming from St Austin’s reading poems at the launch of the new postbox in Stafford Market Square.