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Pam Carder has become known as "Pewsey's poet laureate"

RHYME writer Pam Carder who has become known as Pewsey's poet laureate has picked up an award in a contest for Parkinson's disease sufferers.

Mrs Carder who has lived in Pewsey for 27 years was diagnosed with the illness 30 years ago.

The great grandmother and her husband Alex - he is chairman of the parish council - retired to Pewsey when his career as an RAF officer ended.

Virtually any subject, serious or light hearted, gives her inspiration to wax lyrical and she has published four anthologies of her own verse.

"I have been writing poetry since I was 14," said Mrs Carder who formerly wrote the village column Pewsey in Print for six years.

"What inspires me? Anything, a wet morning, or the flowers and trees outside.

"It just comes, it flows and I write it down."

The Mervyn Peake Awards are held annually in memory of the late poet, novelist and artist who was a Parkinson's sufferer.

Mrs Carder said: "I have submitted poems before without any success."

In the 2008 awards, however, she topped the highly commended awards with her poem The Black Hole.

As its title suggests the poem, that she wrote four years ago, is about depression and despair.

It's first verse reads: "Have you ever fallen into the Black Hole?

A bottomless pit of deep despair.

Tears, grief, hopelessness, dejection?

Yes I've been there."

The final verse reads: "But now a gradual turnaround, New hope, inspired, to forward go, Bravely into the life ahead.

Shoulder my load, face the future.

Loving husband, home, family and friends."

Mr and Mrs carder will be attending the Mervyn Peake Awards presentations in Westminster Cathedral on July 4.

Mrs Carder can be heard reading some of her prose on BBC Radio Swindon on Tuesday May 6 at 3pm.

11:40am Monday 28th April 2008

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