'HE felt a privacy in North Tawton, and people were very respectful of that' — the words of Carol Hughes, the widow of Ted Hughes at an exhibition in the town that celebrated the former poet laureate's life last Thursday.

The exhibition was organised in co-operation with North Tawton Town Council, following their decision to commemorate Ted Hughes' life with a blue plaque in the town square.

Carol said much of her husband's adult life was spent at North Tawton.

'As the town council wanted to honour Ted with a plaque, I thought, to make it more of an event and involve the school, I would put an exhibition together,' she said.

The plaque was unveiled by Carol in a ceremony where children from North Tawton Primary read aloud extracts of Ted's work.

The event was attended by author and former children's laureate Michael Morpurgo and his wife, Clare, who were close friends with Ted.

Carol and the organisers of the event made a concerted effort to involve the primary school. She said: 'This morning in separate groups the whole of the primary school came down.

'We all walked them round the exhibition, and talked to them about the significance of the various things. They were all very attentive and asked lots of interesting questions.'

The exhibition was a varied collection of family photographs, artwork, various editions of his work and personal items that celebrated his whole life. Starting with his school days in Mexborough and student life at Pembroke College Cambridge, the exhibition continued through his family life, displaying his passion for fishing, the countryside, his work and his children.

Among personal belongings on display was his OBE, his gold medal for poetry and one of the bottles of sherry he was given, following him taking the position as poet laureate.