Wells poet named Britain’s first lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender laureate

Trudy Howson, 61, was given the title by the Camden LGBT Forum in London, in recognition of her work.

Over the next three years, she will be expected to write, perform and promote poetry that reflects and celebrates the diverse experience of LGBT people, and raise the profile of LGBT poetry.

Miss Howson said: “I’m thrilled and honoured to be offered this innovative role. It’s the first of its kind, its a new thing.

“I’m also aware of the responsibility of representing a community as diverse as ours is, but determined to set a high standard for those who come after me.

“Inclusion is a key issue, I want to really reach out to all our community. I believe poetry can bring the best out of us.”

Ex-actress Miss Howson’s poetry explores the LGBT community with warmth and humour. She has developed a living, interactive form of poetry and has performed in pubs, clubs, theatres, local and national Radio and TV.

Her work has been published in The Telegraph, The Times, and The London Review. She wrote a poem for the 2012 London Olympics called Going for Gold, which the BBC filmed and used as a trailer in the run-up to the games.