ONE of the most celebrated voices in modern poetry is coming to Ledbury, thanks to the power of partnerships.

Ledbury Poetry Festival, the Feathers Hotel and the University of Worcester have joined forces to bring Sharon Olds to Ledbury from the USA, for next year’s poetry festival, which runs from July 4 to July 13.

Sharon Olds has been in the headlines recently having won both the Pulitzer Prize in the States and the TS Eliot prize in the UK for her collection Stag’s Leap about the painful break-up of her marriage..

Festival director Chloe Garner said: “It is a real coup for the festival that Sharon has accepted our invitation. She is hot property at the moment and has an extremely busy schedule.

“We couldn’t even have approached her if it wasn’t for the support of the Feathers who have agreed to sponsorship in kind by offering accommodation and the University of Worcester who are paying her fee.

“We do need the support of such organisations if the festival is going to continue to attract the best poets.”