A WORLD-RENOWNED prize-winning poet and his wife have been made patrons of the Edward Thomas Literary Festival at Petersfield Museum.

The festival – now in its third year – is a celebration of poet Edward Thomas, who lived in Steep for ten years.

Professor Michael Longley and his wife and academic Professor Edna Longley flew in from Belfast for the event.

Jeremy Mitchell, chairman of the Edward Thomas Fellowship and the Edward Thomas Study Centre, said he was ‘thrilled’ the Longleys had agreed to be joint patrons of the festival. He added Mrs Longley was the go-to person for anything about Edward Thomas from any perspective.

Mr Longley said: “Edward Thomas is a perfect poet, and I lament he was killed before he reached 40, at the Battle of Arras, in 1917.”

In September Mr Longley was awarded the Feltrinelli International Poetry Prize for his contribution to poetry and peace. It is awarded every five years by the Italian Accademia dei Lincei.