CHILDREN’S POETRY COMPETITION ATTRACTS 1,000 ENTRIES

The Mayor of Stockport’s ‘poems for peace’ competition for primary schoolchildren in Stockport attracted 1,000 entries from across the borough.

Councillor Chris Murphy launched the competition to mark the 2013 United Nations (UN) International Day of Peace. 

The winners of the three age categories (Key Stage 1, Lower and Upper Key Stage 2) and the highly commended entries received a WH Smith book token and a certificate from the Mayor at a prize giving event in Stockport Town Hall’s Council Chamber last Friday (18^th October).

     Pictured left:

     The Mayor of Stockport, Councillor
     Chris Murphy, with the winners, from  left
     to right, Sophie Milser, Year 2, Cheadle
     Catholic Infant School;  Alexandra
     Charlwood, Year 6, High Lane Primary
     School;  Sophie Whitehead, Year 6,
     High Lane Primary School;  and Billy
     Shuck, Year 3, Fairway Primary School
     in Offerton.

The children, who were accompanied by their parents and teachers, also enjoyed a tour of the historic Town Hall.

A poster comprising the three winning poems will be distributed to every Stockport primary school to raise awareness of UN International Day of Peace and the important issues the event highlights.

The Mayor said:

“I would like to thank every child who submitted a poem. There were 1,000 entries and the standard was extremely high which made it very hard to judge. Officers shortlisted the entries which was a challenge in itself and then I had the difficult task of picking a winner and two highly commended poems in each age category.  The UN International Day of Peace is a time for the world to pause, reflect and consider how best to break the vicious cycle of violence that conflict creates.”