For our Love Letters to London competition, we asked various friends of The London Society to write something for us, to provide you with inspiration.

Here is a poem from Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking & Dagenham Council 

London isn’t a place it’s a home

A world connected city of nations

A busy metropolis that has time for everyone.

Made up of many different faces and cultures, 

With many stories told and many to be written

To me London is my doorstep, my street, village,

Always a local perspective with a global welcome

Because London isn’t a place it’s a feeling of togetherness

To find out more about the competition - which is free to enter and has prize money of £4,000 - visit our 'Love Letters to London' page here.

(pic of Darren Rodwell (c) London Borough of Barking and Dagenham)