A CUMBRIAN student at the Cambridge college attended by William Wordsworth is organising a special event to mark the poet’s 250th anniversary.

Will Crisp, a former pupil at Windermere’s Lakes School, is leading a poetry reading next month in the chapel at St John’s College.

He has chosen Wordsworth poems on the themes of nature, religion and revolution, and they will be read by members of the college and chapel, and students studying English.

Will, who is in his final year of a degree in languages, has always been inspired by his namesake.

He was the first winner of the now-annual Rydal Mount Wordsworth Prize for young poets.

He said: “Wordsworth was always our local poet, not just one of the world’s greatest Romantic poets.”

“I studied his work for A level, and I’ve always felt his strong influence as a Cumbrian.”

The college has a room named after Wordsworth, and there are other memorials around the university. Further celebrations are planned there this year.

Susan Andrew, the poet’s great great great grand-daughter recalls judging young Will’s poem seven years ago.

She said: “My family have got together annually to judge the Poetry Competition and it has seldom been easy,”

"In most years there has been considerable argument about the relative merits of different entries.

"But this was not the case in the first year. Will Crisp’s Scrap of Iron really stood out.

"The poem was very well-structured, balancing the crowd scene with the solitude, and Will’s use of language - particularly adjectives - was remarkable.

"His ability to create contrasting moods from the excitement of ‘the mass, swelling and apprehensive’ to the calm of ‘ alone in perpetuity, oaken and peaceful’ was most impressive."

She added: “I remember asking Will what subjects he would continue to study and he mentioned science. While conceding that this was a most admirable aim, I could not help feeling that it was, potentially, a loss to literature. It is now apparent that Will has not lost his love of poetry and our family send him all our best wishes for his final year at St. John’s - and beyond.”

Her son Christopher Wordsworth Andrew said: “We are thrilled that Will has taken this initiative to arrange what promises to be a truly memorable occasion at the college. We’re hoping that a member of our family will be able to join him.”

A series of celebratory events is planned throughout this year, at Rydal Mount, Dove Cottage and other locations connected with Wordsworth.

This year’s poetry competition for Cumbrian schools will be launched shortly.

Will’s winning poem: Scrap of Iron

Step upon the grass, rain-spattered, wind-shattered,

A fair distance down I see a wrought iron beacon, beckoning me

Forward across the pools of green, ploughed and pummelled,

At the tip I’m one of the mass, swelling and apprehensive.

A blacksmith approaches, he reckoning me local.

He holds a bucket of fire, excited and ready,

Pour it on, the first flame ignites the hills, mighty at last.

The second from Brantfell, the third from Helvellyn, menacing and sharp.

Fourth, fifth and sixth!

By dusk, eleven could be seen, from Scafell to the Pikes.

We lit the flame and we lit up the world.

I shift to another scene, silent and mysterious for

Miles I seem to be alone in perpetuity, oaken and peaceful.

The fields won’t stir, insentient and desolate.

I am one and myself, with empty heart yet enlightened.

And the people have gone. But cheered with fervour at the light,

It’s a marvel, those having a curbed life never saw.

I will sit, a metal bench and slate plinth for a walker,

Appreciate the thought close to the mere, deserted and beautiful!

The beacon lies on its side, abandoned and burned,

It’s the only memory, of the Lakes, for some.