The Oxford University Poetry Society (OUPS) aims to be the centre of poetic life within the University of Oxford, and was founded in 1946 by Martin Starkie.
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The society is a regular provider of poetry readings in Oxford: its weekly events on Thursdays of the Oxford University term are open to the public and members of the university alike, and generally feature distinguished members of the British poetic community. Historically, readers have included Ted Hughes and Dylan Thomas and in recent years visiting readers have included the then Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, and other renowned poets such as Paul Muldoon, Anne Stevenson, Craig Raine, Daljit Nagra, Alice Oswald and Saul Williams.
OUPS holds writing workshops on Wednesdays at The Chequers - during which members read and critique one another's work - and administrates numerous other events, including open mic readings and collaborations with various college arts festivals. The society also disseminates information about university poetry competitions, including the Newdigate Prize, the Lord Alfred Douglas Memorial Prize and the Eugene Lee-Hamilton Prize, events such as the termly readings at Balliol College under the auspices of the current Oxford Professor of Poetry, Geoffrey Hill, and external resources which may be of interest to members, such as the Poetry Library.
The society administers the annual Martin Starkie Prize, named after OUPS's founder, and its own Poetry Reading Competition (formerly known as the Declamation Competition). It has a quarterly magazine, Ash, which was launched by Helen Taylor in Michaelmas term 2007, showcasing the writing of its members.[1]
The current committee is composed of Anna McCrory (President), Toby Lloyd (Vice-President), Lucy Fielder (Treasurer), Maisie Lawrence (Ash editor), Georgia Mizen (Deputy Ash editor, Workshop Director), Augusta Thomson (Live Events Manager), Owain Jevons and Hanz MacDonald (Publicity Officers). The senior member is Bernard O'Donoghue.
Past Presidents include (incomplete list):