An avid Wells boater and poet has landed the role of the first ever official Poet Laureate to the Avon Navigation Trust.  the river guardian and statutory navigational authority for the mighty Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire River Avon.

Alison Bergqvist was inspired to put pen to paper by her time spent travelling the waterway between Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire and Stratford-upon-Avon - home to that other Bard of Avon. And now a collection of her poems lauding the waterway has been published and will be used to raise money for the Trust, which is also a charity.

The Avon's sparkling new Poet Laureate admits she was lost for words when the Warwickshire river's guardians offered her the role of her life. But not for long. Wells-based Alison Bergqvist, who'd hardly written before being mightily moved by boating on the beautiful river twixt Tewkesbury and Stratford-upon-Avon, says verses poured out for The little ANT book of River Poems.

She is also poised to craft for the Avon Navigation Trust's (ANT) special events, kicking off with her own launch, which was disappointingly delayed by the pandemic. Boxes of the books were delivered in 2020 just before Alison's birthday… and the first lockdown, which also shut off the Trust's merchandising outlets.

"Now two years and more/ And water galore/ Under Avon's ancient bridges," quoth Alison, right on cue. "But time stands still/ By river and mill/ And my words as ardent as ever!"

It's a wonder that the book ever happened at all. A long-time, RYA qualified, sailing enthusiast, Alison wasn't that keen when partner Chris suggested cruising the Avon on his little Hardy 20 River Pilot Tess. Meanwhile ANT Chief Executive Clive Matthews cheerfully admits he's a poetry newbie. But Alison immediately fell in love with the ever-changing Avon, the verses started flowing and Clive was hooked. "I don't know a lot about poetry, but even I can appreciate the quality of Alison's work and the fact that our river inspires her so is very worth celebrating by making her our first Poet Laureate," he says.

Alison had planned just to share her musing with friends and family and admits that the news that her audience will swell immensely was a life changer. "It is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me," adds the retired literacy and dyslexia support worker who inherited a love of poetry and wildlife from her late father John. "I thought pootling up and down the Avon would be boring, but I couldn't have been more wrong. I love every minute, there's inspiration everywhere and the poetry gushes out," says Alison.

The book is available from www.avonvanigationtrust.org and costs £4 with proceeds going to the charity.