Tattooed poet to take Eton post

Patience Agbabi's influences include rap, ska and punk

A poet who worked as writer-in-residence in a tattoo parlour for a year has accepted a similar post at one of Britain's top public schools.

Patience Agbabi's employment at Eton, the Berkshire school previously attended by princes William and Harry, will run from 16 February to 4 March.

Headmaster Tony Little said she will teach classes, deliver talks and speak individually to interested pupils.

"I'll be talking about poetry and tattoos to the boys," said Ms Agbabi.

I imagine I'll provide quite a contrast Patience Agbabi

"She is quite a lively character and I'm looking forward to meeting her," Mr Little said.

He added that the tattooed poet, whose influences include rap, ska and punk, would be a "great stimulus for creative writing and thinking" for the boys at Eton.

From 1999-2000 Agbabi, was in-house poet at Flamin' Eights Tattoo Studio, in Camden, north London.

She told the London Evening Standard: "I don't think any subject will be out of bounds - I'm just going to be myself.

"I don't know if they have ever had anyone like me in their school before. I imagine I'll provide quite a contrast."