POET Kevin Cadwallender took time out from promoting his work to read to his dead brother.

Kevin, of Sunderland, who is in residence at Durham County Council, was inspired to start writing by his brother John.

John, of Blackhall, East Durham, who died seven years ago of a brain tumour, loved the poem High Flight by John Gillespie Magee.

Kevin spent time at John's grave in Blackhall Cemetery reading the poem during his county-wide poetry dash yesterday.

"He knew he was dying and asked me to read it at his funeral. I go and read it at the grave if I'm passing.

"I used to go over and smoke two cigarettes, one for him, one for me, but I don't smoke now. He introduced me to poetry. He never was a professional poet but he was a keen amateur. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have gone into it at all.

"It is an aircraftman's poem about flying high in the cloud and it is quite religious. As John was an atheist, it is a bit of a joke.''

Kevin's "poetry dash'', held to mark National Poetry Day, involved readings in libraries and shops across the county and appearances on local radio and TV.

His repertoire included some of his own work and verse from The Nation's Favourite Poems.

"I think generally it went well and I have had a good day.

"People have received it well,'' he said.