Award-winning Sammy is the first poet laureate

MULTI award-winning poet Sammy Weaver has been appointed as Rochdale's first ever poet laureate.

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The multi-talented creative writer has been commissioned to capture the spirit of Rochdale in words, raising awareness and helping encourage people to engage with poetry during the town's year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture.

Sammy, who lives on a narrow boat along Rochdale Canal, said she is excited about the opportunity: "This seemed like a great chance to be a public poet in a place that has become my home, encouraging others, especially young people, to get involved and telling Rochdale's fascinating stories through poetry. In the spirit of the co-operative movement that began in Rochdale I really like how the role has room for creative ideas to grow and for locals to have a say in the project.

"Anyone can be a creative writer if given the right support and I hope that through my work I am able to share the joy that poems can spark."