INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE IN MEMORY OF DISTINGUISHED ABERDEEN POET TO LAUNCH ON WORLD POETRY DAY
The international poetry competition in memory of distinguished Aberdeen poet Gerard Rochford returns on World Poetry Day, 21 March 2026.
The Gerard Rochford Poetry Prize 2026 – organised by Rochford's Literary Executors in collaboration with the creative platform Mist and Mountain(UK) – invites writers to submit an original poem on the theme of 'Journey'.
The winner will receive £200 and a specially commissioned ceramic bowl featuring an excerpt of Gerard Rochford’s poetry, while two runners up will each receive small ceramic bowls and £50. The bowls have been handmade by Gerard’s daughter, ceramicist and painter, Lucy Carolan.
Award-winning poet, novelist, traditional storyteller and singer, Sheena Blackhall, who was a friend of Gerard, will judge the competition finalists.
Blackhall said: "I’m honoured to be asked to judge this competition. Gerard Rochford was a much loved and respected poet. But he was more than that. He was a mentor to many aspiring poets, giving freely of his wisdom and time - a rare thing indeed. He is much missed in the North East poetry community."
Brought up in Worcestershire, Gerard Rochford (1932 – 2019) lived most of his life in his adopted home city of Aberdeen, where he was a distinguished professor and psychotherapist. Poetry was a true vocation, and he was widely published in newspapers, influential online magazines, chapbooks and poetry collections. At the heart of Aberdeen’s vibrant poetry scene, Gerard was highly respected, not only for the quality of his own work, but for his generosity of spirit, mentoring and championing the work of nascent poets.
A regular visitor to Canada, home to his partner in later life, Rochford also established himself as a transatlantic poet and became an important and active part of the poetry scene in Victoria. Poetry was a lifelong labour of love but – as father to ten children with his wife Anne who died in 1991 - Gerard’s greatest joy was his family.
The inaugural Gerard Rochford Poetry Prize, held in 2021, attracted an impressive 736 entries from over 40 countries.
The closing date for entries to the Gerard Rochford Poetry Prize 2026 is 30 June and the winners will be announced on Wednesday 30 September 2026. The competition is free to enter. Full details and entry rules are available on the Mist and Mountain website and the Gerard Rochford Poetry page.
Further information: Martin Shannon, Gerard Rochford Poetry Prize 2026 Tel: 07714 504088 Email: gerardrochfordpoetry@gmail.com
Nabin K. Chhetri, Director Mist and Mountain Creative Platform Email: contact.mistandmountain@gmail.com
Summary for Social Media: The international poetry competition, in memory of distinguished Aberdeen poet, Gerard Rochford returns on World Poetry Day, Sunday 21 March. Full entry details at Gerard Rochford Poetry Prize 2026.
Gerard Rochford (17 December 1932 – 18 December 2019) was brought up in Worcestershire, England, educated at Hull and Oxford Universities but lived most of his life in Aberdeen, Scotland.
A distinguished professor and psychotherapist, poetry was a lifetime's vocation. Gerard's poetry was widely published throughout his lifetime; from student newspapers to influential online magazines and many of his own chapbooks and collections. His extensive writings explored human relationships, wildlife and politics. 'Perhaps they are all one', he said.
A regular visitor to Canada, he established himself as a transatlantic poet and became an important and active part of the poetry scene in Victoria.
As Makar for Kenneth Roy’s respected online magazine Scottish Review , Gerard submitted a poem every month for six years. His poem My Father's Hand was chosen by the Scottish Poetry Library as one of the best poems of 2006.
Gerard lived in the west end of Aberdeen from 1963 until he died in 2019. Well-travelled and well read, he had an exceptionally broad hinterland to draw inspiration from for his work. Poetry was a lifetime labour of love but as father of ten children with his Anglo-Indian wife Anne (d.1991), Gerard’s greatest joy was his family.
GERARD ROCHFORD POETRY PRIZE 2026
ENTRY RULES:
1. The Gerard Rochford Poetry Prize 2026 is an international poetry competition open to any writer over the age of 18.
2. Entry is FREE but limited to one poem per individual entrant.
3. The theme of the competition is ‘Journey’.
4. All entries must be in English.
5. Poems can be any length up to a maximum of 40 lines.
6. Poems must be titled and entirely the original, unpublished work of the entrant.
7. By entering this competition you confirm that AI has not been used to create your poem and that your poem is not entered into any other ‘live’ poetry competitions.
8. Submissions must be entered under the entrant’s real name.
9. No relatives of the Gerard Rochford Prize 2026 judging committee are eligible to enter this competition.
10. The poet retains the copyright of their submitted work, but by entering the competition, they grant the organisers a non-exclusive licence to publish their work in any media to promote the competition.
11. The closing date for entries is midnight (UK time) Tuesday 30 June 2026.
12. Mist and Mountain Creative Platform and Gerard Rochford’s Literary Executors will shortlist entries for final judging.
13. Award-winning poet Sheena Blackhall will select the winner and runners up from the shortlist.
14. The judge’s decision is final and competition organisers are unable to comment on individual entries.
15. The winner and runners up will be announced on Wednesday 30 September 2026 and see their poems published on the Mist and Mountain website and the Gerard Rochford Poetry page.
16. First Prize is £200 and a specially commissioned ceramic bowl, created by artist Lucy Carolan, featuring an excerpt of Gerard Rochford’s poetry.
17. Two runners up will each receive £50 and a small, bespoke commemorative bowl, created by artist Lucy Carolan.
18. All entries – including the author’s real name and contact details – must be submitted electronically via the following email address gerardrochfordpoetry@gmail.com
19. Disqualification: The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any entry that does not meet the entry requirements, contains plagiarised or offensive material, or violates any laws or regulations.
20. Agreement: By entering the competition, poets agree to abide by these rules and to the judges’ decisions. You can keep up to date with the competition, by liking and following the Gerard Rochford Poetry and Mist and Mountain pages.
