Alan, who lives in a small Aberdeenshire village, was born in Glasgow, educated in Berkshire and Dorset, before returning to Edinburgh where he studied electronic engineering. He works as a multimedia technician and radio studio instructor at Aberdeen College.

He has some 25 poems published by a variety of imprints and has his feet firmly on the ground.

His poems are clearly expressed and easily understood and he uses simple language to write about the large issues of life, such as the power of the word over the sword and the destruction of the planet.

He is listed by the Scottish Book Trust, which is Scotland’s national agency for literature development and performs an educational roadshow or readings of his repertoire of published and new poetry, under the Live Literature Scotland banner and uses radio broadcasting techniques to link modern rock and pop songs to his poetry about a variety of popular singers - a project recently endorsed by his local radio station ‘Northsound Radio’.

Not only a progressive and technoactive poet, Alan has previously been awarded for his poetry and for his achievements of excellence in the field of country music lyric writing by ‘The International Songwriters Association’ - ISA.

He lives with his partner Sharon, who also writes and has his own website - www.alangledinning.com.

His aim is to write poetry for others so that whether they choose to simply enjoy or interpret his work, they will feel as if they are the writer, the reader and the audience.

In short, to take you . . . beyond the beat.

The prize winning poem is the story of singer/performer Kylie Minogue, as she emerges from the shadows of life and turns herself from the chrysalis she once was, to the beautiful butterfly that she is today and how her fans and followers can see how her attitudes, feelings and beliefs can help gain respect and acceptance, through perseverance and hard work, in a world which is not always what it seems . . .