Poetry competition 26 years old

Poetry reading in Chesterfield was the focus when local children took part in the Rotary Club of Chesterfield’s 26th annual Chesterfield Junior Schools Poetry Reading Competition. Fifteen contestants took part from five local schools and the winner was 10 year old Christopher Chiad from Hady Primary School with his rendition of Roald Dahl’s poem The Centipede Song. Runners up, also from Hady Primary School, were Isobel Woolley with The Adventures of Isobel by Ogden Nash and Melissa Moxon with The Visitor by Ian Serraillier. 
 
President Mike Cudzich-Madry, who presented the prizes is a lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University. He spoke highly about the standard of entries and the confidence of the youngsters, saying: “Taking part in competitions like this will help the youngsters with their communication skills should they choose to go to university in the future.”
 
The three judges were Chesterfield Rotary Vocational Service Chairman, Ian Gordon, President Ann Elliott and Past President, Margaret Mitchell of the Inner Wheel Club of Chesterfield. The main organiser and compere was Chesterfield Rotary Past President, David Windle.
 
Chesterfield Inner Wheel President, Anne Elliott praised the teachers and parents for supporting the children in their quest to read poetry. She told the audience: “I am amazed at the talent, so the choice of a winner was difficult due to the high standard of the entrants. There are no losers here, as all the children have gained from the experience.”