The Jacqueline Bardsley Poet-in-Residence at Homerton is generously funded by Dr Norman Bardsley in memory of his wife, Jacqueline, who attended Homerton from 1960-62. Mrs Bardsley was a lifelong writer and lover of poetry and was actively involved in several poetry societies near her home in California. The residency was set up to celebrate and promote poetry in the wider College community.
Homerton's inaugural Poet-in-Residence, from 2021 to 2023, was Mariah Whelan, a poet, teacher and interdisciplinary researcher. Mariah’s debut collection, a novel-in-sonnets called ‘the love i do to you’, was published in 2019. Poems from the novel were shortlisted for The Bridport Prize and the book was shortlisted for The Poetry Book Awards, and won the AM Heath Prize.
Homerton's second Jacqueline Bardsley Poet-In-Residence, from 2023 to 2025, was Momtaza Mehri, formerly Young People’s Poet Laureate for London and winner of the 2023 Forward Prize for Best First Collection, for Bad Diaspora Poems.
