A poem about Stoneleigh Community Library has won a national poetry competition.

Trevor Dunford, a retired architect, was named winner of the Surrey County Council’s Poetry Competition for his poem about Stoneleigh Community Library.

The poem describes the library as not just being about books but also the volunteers that run this community library and the clubs and activities it provides for the local community.

The Poetry Competition was launched to help celebrate National Libraries week and attracted scores of entries around the chosen theme of celebrating libraries and the individual communities around them.

Many entries described libraries as being places to dream, learn and meditate.

Trevor is a founder member of the Stoneleigh Creative writing group which meets monthly at Stoneleigh Community Library. He began writing poetry as a teenager and also writes historical stories.

Diana Kay, Chair of the Friends of Stoneleigh Library, said: “I am delighted at Trevor’s success with a poem celebrating our library and the volunteers who put so much effort into making it a lively and creative place. “

Trevor’s winning poem can be read here.

By Paul Eaves