A team effort has won a local writer a national poetry competition and the opportunity to have her first poem published. 
Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Murphy from Melbourn entered the Poems in a Pandemic competition thanks to her friendship with Melbourn’s new Melbourn Springs care home and beat 300 other entries to win her category.
Betty has been a regular visitor to the home in Hyacinth Drive since it opened this year, supporting the residents remotely and making knitted ear savers for the staff through the lock down.
She wrote Isolation Musings for the pleasure of the residents. It was read to them by Home Services Advisor Dan Amis who then put the poem forward for national recognition.
“Betty is always so cheerful and a joy to speak to,” said Dan, “and her poem ‘Isolation Musings’ had all of our residents and staff in stiches! I thought it was perfect to enter it into the Poems in a Pandemic’ Competition and Betty agreed. We were so delighted to learn that she had won!”
Poems in a Pandemic was a national poetry and art competition for frontline social care support staff, leaders, nurses and community friends to capture their thoughts, feelings and experiences throughout the pandemic.
Supported by Care Talk, Betty’s poem is going to be published in a book with all proceeds going to supporting the mental health of care workers through art projects.
Said Betty: “My poems come to me at any time – even as I am eating breakfast! I cannot sit down and start to write one but once I start they just flow from the pen. I am so thankful to Dan for entering my poem for me and am really looking forward to being interviewed before the book is published.”
Betty has even ventured into the virtual world for the first time to give a live reading of ‘Isolation Musings’ on the competition live final via Zoom.
To donate to fund the publishing of the top 100 poems from frontline staff, with all profits going towards supporting mental wellbeing, please visit: https://t.co/FY3OLtorhe
