John Agard
Poet
Guyanese poet, children's author, playwright, and 2012 recipient of the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. His numerous literary works include Shoot Me With Flowers, Laughter is an Egg, and Brer Rabbit: The Great Tug-o-War.
He grew up in British Guiana and spent many happy childhood afternoons listening to cricket commentary on the radio.
He was the 2008 Poet-in-Residence at the National Maritime Museum in London.
He and his partner Grace Nichols moved to England in 1977.
He and fellow poet Carol Ann Duffy judged a 2011 national school poetry competition.