Now Becks wings it as a poet

Elated, no doubt, by the success of his autobiography which has been topping the book charts, David Beckham is stretching his literary wings again.

This time, though, the footballer's scribblings are less extensive: a copy of a child's poem and a paragraph-long recollection of a youthful football game that shaped his career.

Beckham is one of a host of famous names including Hugh Grant, Joanna Lumley and Anna Ford who have contributed to a new book of children's poems, called Hug O' War. All the profits will fund relief work in Kosovo.

Each of the 48 "well-known and successful" contributors was asked to handwrite their chosen poem (which is printed alongside a typed version for clarity) and also to write about either a memorable childhood moment or why they chose their particular career.

The hand-written samples were then sent to handwriting experts at the British Academy of Graphology, who analysed them, looking specifically for those characteristics which had made that person successful.

The resulting reminiscences and analyses make for fascinating reading. In addition to the small selection printed here, there are contributions from Jeremy Irons, Nick Hornby, Alan Whicker, Frank Leboeuf and Richard E Grant among others.

David Beckham

Poem: Hey Diddle Diddle
Memorable childhood moment: Playing right-wing for Waltham Forest Under-12s against Redbridge. Becks reveals that when his mother told him there was a Manchester United scout at the game who wanted to discuss taking him to the club for trials, "I leapt into the air and started to cry". The rest, as David says, "is now history".
Graphologist's verdict: "This is a disciplined young man with ambition, enthusiasm and high aspirations." Appointing Beckham to captain England against Italy was not such a great idea, however, as he is "not yet sufficiently self-assured to feel comfortable as a leader of others". (England lost 1-0.)

Hugh Grant

Poem: Who Has Seen the Wind? by Christina Rossetti
Memorable childhood moment: For the four-year-old Grant, "deciding to stuff some apple peel up my nose" was a bad move. He spent several unforgettable hours at "London's most senior ear, nose and throat doctor" as a result.
Graphologist's verdict: "Instinctively he is able to exploit his talents productively without undue waste of energy - for example in an aggressive pursuit of fame for its own sake."

Simon Callow

Poem: A Slash of Blue (a poem about the sky)
Why he chose his career: Callow, at nine years old, is reading at the school Christmas concert: "After 30 seconds, I have them [the audience] eating out of my hand. At the end, quite inappropriately, they applaud. This is the moment at which I became an actor."
Graphologist's verdict: "The writer has a restless energy and enthusiasm combined with a need for social contacts and recognition."

Richard Curtis (writer of Four Weddings and Notting Hill)

Poem: Byron's She Walks in Beauty
Memorable childhood moment: Sitting on the school bus when "on got a girl, black polo neck and red skirt. Within 10 seconds, I was mad with love. Her name was Tracy N Thompson, her initials TNT, and surely she blew my life apart."
Graphologist's verdict: "An exuberant vivacity of mind combined with a flair for communicating ideas enables this person to express his creativity in an original way."

Joanna Lumley

Poem: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat by Lewis Carroll
Memorable childhood moment: Lumley describes being a three-year-old when she made up her "first poem". It is about a cat getting run over, and doesn't rhyme, scan or make sense. "Even then I knew I lacked something," Lumley modestly opines.
Graphologist's verdict: "An impressive personality, she carries herself with dignity and pride."