A FORMER Kingsbridge Community College student has come second in the national final of a poetry slam competition.

Tom Denbigh, 25, was the runner up in the Hammer and Tongue Slam Poetry Competition at the Royal Albert Hall in London. A poetry slam is a competition at which poets recite their original work and then they are scored by judges.

Tom, a biologist who is studying for a PhD at Bristol University, began writing poetry five years ago and regularly performs at poetry nights in Bristol.

While working at the Campaign for Science and Engineering in London at the end of 2016, he began performing to London audiences and last week qualified for the National Championships with one of the highest scores ever given.

On being runner up Tom said: ‘The night was full and I mean FULL of talent; and it means a lot to do so well when the bar is so high. The best thing about the night has to have been the audience - they were amazing and warm and cheered so so loudly!’

Tom is now getting bookings to perform at events across the country, but says he also has to concentrate on his PhD! His work has been described as ’charming, funny and humane’ by reviewers. You can find out more about Tom on his Facebook page: @tomdenbighpoet or Twitter; @unrootedtom