Cherry Doyle and Lola Taylor appointed Staffordshire’s new Poets Laureate

Two new Poets Laureate have been appointed in Staffordshire, with Cherry Doyle from Rugeley taking on the county-wide role and Lola Taylor from Stone becoming Staffordshire’s new Young Poet Laureate.

The appointments were announced by Staffordshire County Council to coincide with National Poetry Day on 1 October.

Both roles are managed by the council’s Libraries and Communities Service and are designed to encourage more people across Staffordshire to enjoy poetry, creative writing and the spoken word.

What is a Poet Laureate?

A Poet Laureate is essentially an ambassador for poetry, using their writing and public appearances to encourage others to read, write and perform poetry.

Staffordshire’s Poet Laureate is appointed for two years and works across the county, creating and performing work, supporting events and helping celebrate Staffordshire’s people, places and stories.

The Poet Laureate also supports and mentors the Young Poet Laureate.

Staffordshire’s Young Poet Laureate is appointed for 12 months and gives a young writer the opportunity to promote poetry among other young people and take part in events and activities across the county.

Lola is the 11th person to hold Staffordshire’s Young Poet Laureate title.

Cherry Doyle appointed for two years

Cherry Doyle, from Rugeley, will spend the next two years championing poetry across Staffordshire, developing new audiences and supporting Lola in her role.

Cherry moved to Staffordshire 12 years ago and says the county’s landscapes have since become an important source of inspiration for her writing.

Themes of landscape and place feature prominently in her poetry pamphlet September, published in 2019, and her 2023 collection The Taste of Rain: A Year on Cannock Chase.

Cherry said: “I am beyond grateful to Staffordshire Libraries for trusting me with the role of Staffordshire Poet Laureate, and I’m excited to further develop the profile of poetry in our wonderful county, continuing the legacy of the previous Laureates.”

She said poetry had helped her connect with the heritage and history of Staffordshire since settling in the county.

“I’m looking forward to meeting poets and poetry fans across Staffordshire and working with Lola to showcase and celebrate our wonderful home and the talented people we have here,” she added.

Stone student becomes 11th Young Poet Laureate

Lola Taylor, from Stone, is currently in Year 12 and has become Staffordshire’s 11th Young Poet Laureate.

During her 12 months in the role, she hopes to take poetry into schools and communities and encourage other young people to experiment with their own voices, experiences and writing styles.

Lola said poetry had always provided a way for her to express herself and connect with other people.

She said: “I was inspired by slam poetry, both at school and through seeing it performed in the media, and I loved how powerful and relatable it could be.”

Lola particularly enjoys writing poetry containing personal messages and hopes readers can recognise some of their own experiences in her work.

“Over the next 12 months, I want to share my passion for poetry with others, encourage more people to have the confidence to write and perform, and show how poetry can give people a voice,” she said.

Encouraging more people to try poetry

Councillor Hayley Coles, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, welcomed both appointments.

She said poetry could have wider benefits beyond creative expression, including helping people develop their reading skills and understanding of language and literacy.

The council says Cherry and Lola will play an important role in encouraging creativity and celebrating Staffordshire’s culture, heritage and communities.

Events, workshops and other activities involving the two new laureates are expected to take place during their terms.