HUGHES

On his becoming Poet Laureate in 1984, the Sherry Institute of Spain presented Hughes with a gift of approximately 700 bottles of sherry. Hughes dubbed them Laureate's Choice, and came up with design for the bottle label himself, a hoopoe with a laurel crown. Over the years he made gifts of bottles to friends, and a case was sent to the Queen Mother, who wrote in reply I am not only very grateful but extremely touched that you should wish me to share in this lovely gift. It was Oloroso Seco sherry bottled by Williams and Humberts.Hughes designed the label in 1991, and received the shipment of sherry in 1994.