A former student of the late poet Tony Harrison has recalled how his encouragement helped her overcome class barriers and pursue an academic career. Dr Chrissie Tiller, now 75, wrote to the Guardian after reading tributes to Harrison, who died in September.
Dr Tiller was a working-class scholarship student from Leeds when Harrison became her tutor at Newcastle University in 1969-70. She described feeling intimidated by his knowledge of classical literature, but found solace in his insistence on staying true to northern roots. 'During that year I learned you could write dazzling poetry in a language that belonged to us Loiners,' she wrote.
When she doubted her place at university, Harrison sent her to the library to write about William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience 'from your own experience'. He scribbled 'more power to your elbow, lass' on her essay. 'It was the first I'd ever written where it felt it might be fine to just be me,' she said.
Last year, Dr Tiller was awarded a PhD in Dublin, examining class and gender from the perspective of a first-generation working-class woman in the arts and academia. As she collected her degree, she whispered Harrison's words to herself. 'More power to your elbow, Tony. You did all us Loiners proud,' she added.
In a separate letter, Brian Allen, a retired NHS chaplaincy team leader, recalled Harrison's 1993 documentary Black Daisies for the Bride, which he used to train staff in dementia care. He described it as 'a powerful and timeless story'.
