Primary schools from the local area gathered at QEGS to take part in a verse speaking competition, as children recited poetry that they had written across 4 main categories.

A total of seven schools took part in the successful event, with an impressive array of poetry presented by pupils at QEGS, Belmont Community Primary School, St Barnabas CE Primary, Turton and Edgworth CEM Primary, St James’ Lower Darwen Primary, St Paul’s Hoddlesden Primary and Darwen St James’ CE Primary.

The pupils delivered their poetry with confidence, humour and didn’t let the daunting task of performing in front of a crowd of people that they did not know, put them off.

Mrs Southworth, Head of Primary Phase at QEGS, explained: “The two experienced verse speaking judges found it very difficult to select the winners and we were all so impressed with the pupils’ poise. Following the fantastic feedback I have had from the other six schools, this is definitely an event we will want to run again next year.”

Winners for each category were; Nabhaan Aziz (QEGS) for a British poem, Enzo-Luc Savage (Darwen St James’) for a World poem, Grace Ashcroft-Gardner (St Barnabas) for a funny poem, Sam Sheard-Pearson (Belmont) for his Own Creation poem, Cameron Stephens (Turton and Edgworth) for overall boy performer and finally, Orla McGaffigan (St Paul’s Hoddlesden) for overall girl performer.