Poet, critic and author Anne Stevenson wrote the foreword to the book, titled An Anthology of Poetry in Commemoration of the School's Centenary: Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle, West Street, 1908-2008 - which is being published by Cupits of Horncastle.

American born Anne now lives in Durham and has visited the school to speak inspirationally on poetry every spring for the past four years.

"Each of these visits has increased my awareness of the school's excellent English programme through which the contagious enthusiasm of the teachers has been passed onto the students," she says in the book.

Pupils and staff were asked to explore, in no more than 25 words, the past, the future and other matters relating to time. The best poems were chosen for the book.

Headteacher Tim Peacock was impressed with the standard of poems and said: "I congratulate all those staff and pupils who rose to the challenge and made a contribution."

"To be part of a free grammar school that can trace its origins to the fourteenth century, and was chartered in 1571, is enough to induce a sense of great pride and wonder.

"This anthology has been created, in part, to mark their achievements but it also celebrates the great talents of today's students."