Congratulations to my MA supervisor Tim Liardet, my agent Elise Dillsworth, stablemate Leo Boix, and the lovely Sophie Herxheimer on their fellowship and honorary fellowship of the RSL.
Here’s the RSL social media announcement…
The 2026 Fellows: Arifa Akbar @arifa.akbar, Jake Arnott @jakearnottauthor, Joanna Biggs @joanouvelle, Dinah Birch, Leo Boix @boixleo, James Campbell, Lauren Child @laurenchildthatsme, Patricia Duncker, Melissa Harrison @m_z_harrison, Sophie Herxheimer @sophieherx, Katie Hickman, Kapka Kassabova @kapka_kassabova, Stuart Kelly, Nigella Lawson @nigellalawson, Roger Lewis, Tim Liardet, Ankhi Mukherjee, Chris Riddell @chris_riddell, Claudia Roden, Lola Shoneyin @lolashoneyin, Nell Stevens @nellstevens and Philip Terry.
The 2026 Honorary Fellows: Paul Burston @paulburston1, Elise Dillsworth, Ted Hodgkinson, Caroline McCormick, Judith Palmer and Reza Vishkai.
We are also pleased to award the 2026 Benson Medal to Judith Palmer, Director of The Poetry Society. Founded in 1916 by scholar, author and RSL Fellow A.C. Benson, the Benson Medal honours service to literature across a whole career.
The RSL offers our warm congratulations to each new Fellow and Honorary Fellow, and thanks them for their contributions to literature across the UK and beyond.
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Karen Downs-Barton 