Record number of prizes for young poets given by Rotary
A record number of prizes were awarded this year in a children’s poetry competition.
The Chichester Children’s Poetry Competition is organised by the Rotary Club of Chichester, and the award ceremony for this year’s contest was held on April 26. It was attended by 13 prize winners from local schools, together with their parents, teachers, and family members.
The prizes were presented by the Mayor of Chichester, cllr Martyn Bell, in the Council Chamber at the Assembly Rooms. The sponsors of the competition, The Trefoil Trust, the publishers John Wiley and Sons, and Woods Travel Group, were also represented at the ceremony.
The poetry judge Emmajane Hughes, who has taught Creative Writing at University of Chichester for a number of years, said: “The standard of poems submitted by children from schools in Chichester and surrounding districts was exceptionally high this year”.
She expressed gratitude to the university students who have written encouraging notes for all of the children who entered the competition.
Colin Old, English teacher at Chichester High School, said: “My desire is always to pass on my love of words to younger pupils, to encourage them to create their own images using the wealth of vocabulary at our disposal in the English language. Hopefully, my enthusiasm will spill over into the lives of these youngsters, convincing them that words can have power, creativity and passion.”
Cliff Hughes, the competition organiser, thanked fellow Rotarians who had supported the competition with their help and expertise. Thanks also went to the Mayor and Mayoress for their support in presiding over the event.