Children’s Poetry Competition in Chandler’s Ford

In association with the Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2017, the Chandler’s Ford Authors organised a children’s poetry competition. We had support from Chandler’s Ford Library, the Extravaganza Committee and Goadsby’s Estate Agents.

Participants had to write a poem on ‘Where I Live’. It did not have to rhyme, it did not have to be about your house. We looked forward to seeing how children would interpret the title and we were not disappointed. 

One poem took the world as where the author lived, another described the sights around Chandler’s Ford and yet another lived in a spooky home. Chandler’s Ford children do not lack imagination.

Finian Black agreed to be the judge. He is an author of young people’s books from Winchester (The Final Raven – A thrilling story about a modern-day plague.)

Poetry Reading

Parents, participants, Finian Black and Brenda Sedgwick met at Chandler’s Ford Library, accompanied by Robbie Sprague. There were 25 of us in all. Robbie, formerly a headteacher at Halterworth, has gained a reputation as a poetry reader and he entertained the children with his readings of:-

• My Party: Kit Wright
• If you don’t put your shoes on….: Michael Rosen
• The Visitor: Ian Serraillier
• My Dad, Your Dad: Kit Wright
• Centipede Song: Roald Dahl
• The Commentator: Gareth Owen

The children sat spellbound at these poems which evoke images and stories all children are familiar with. The adults enjoyed themselves as well.

The winners were announced, there was a prize for the 8-11 year-old and 11-15 year-olds. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, Goadsby Estate Agents, we were able to give a book prize to all the runners-up.