Come to our fete on Saturday, June 8th, 12-3pm, at St George’s Church, Badshot Lea, for an afternoon of games, stalls, tea, cake, prosecco, tombolas, a raffle and entertainment.
Farnham’s Town Crier will open the fete at noon, and visitors can browse the craft stalls, try their luck at the three tombolas (chocolate, bottle and household goods), play Splat the Rat, search for the hidden treasure, have a game of table football, guess the weight of the cake, raise a glass at the bar, and enjoy a barbecue lunch followed by a cream tea. There’s lots more on too, including a lucky dip for children, a craft area for little ones, a grand raffle with a first prize of £100, live music and displays by Farnham and Aldershot Karate Club, Badshot Lea Village Infant School and the Paris School of Dancing.
The Farnham Poetry Competition, part of the Farnham Literary Festival, attracted more than 120 entries from across the country, all writing on the theme of Friendship.
The oldest entrant, whom we know about at least, was 96, the youngest was just four and, once again, we were awed by the talent and creativity of the entrants.
There were two categories: Under-16s, judged by poet Coral Rumble, and adults, judged by poet Linda Daruvala, and the results are:
Under-16. Highly Commended:
Emily Teuten – My Big Sister Peggy Wingham – My love recipe Sienna Law and Tilly Wild – Friendship is something no-one can take Bea Timewell – You and I are sun and moon Zahra Rafiq – A poem of friendship Hugo De Gruchy Webster – Friends are big, friends are small Scarlett Harwick and Bella Lister – Friendship is like nature Charlotte Keleher – One thing can change the world Zoran Stimson – True friends, Always disagree Dolcie Jennings – I am Dolcie and I am 4
Vinnie McGuire – Locked In A Van Kate Kennington Steer – Visitation Elly Jones – Exactly What She Deserves Victoria D’Cruz – Artistic Licence Ella Zubeidi – Adrift Lisette Abrahams – Marking The Miles Vicky Lowe – A Solitary Word
Third Prize: Kay Wadham – Farewell
Second Prize: Liz Kendall – She’s Never Seen The Mummy
I have thousands of friends and likers And all of them follow me As if I am the coolest girl in class Instead of little nobody. I have thousands of subscribers and followers As if I am the latest trend Even though I’ve never met half of them I’m proud to have so many friends. Or should I call them strangers? They could be anyone I don’t know all their names Or even where they’re from. My friends could be any age Are they older than I guessed? I think I should be more cautious When I’m sent a friend request. We exchange ‘laters’ and ‘lols’ through texter Our messages are emojis and GIFs I have thousands of friends and strangers In mydigital friendships.
I stand on the threshold of adulthood, A time of transition, a turbulent flood. Friends once close now drift away, Leaving me with memories, stark and gray.
Adrift in a sea of changing tides, I cling to what once was, where my heart resides.
The laughter, the tears, the shared dreams we spun, Now shattered like glass in the setting sun.
An allusion to youth, a fleeting sigh, As ambition drives us to reach for the sky. But in this journey of growing apart, Anxiety grips as it clutches my heart.
Yet courage whispers amidst the fear, Friendship’s essence ever clear. For in abandonment’s cruel sting, True bonds emerge with resilient wings.
Freedom found in letting go, Embracing what comes, letting new friendships grow. So here I stand, on life’s grand stage, Understanding now, through wisdom’s gage.
Third prize
Peapods
by Emily Tarrant
‘Like two peas in a pod’ – what they say to inseparable friends, and young lovers. But some pea pods, the peas are detached, and the friendship is broken. Some peas, they quibble and quarrel in their pods. Some peas, are happy and chuckle and grin. Some peas, leave the pod before you take it in. Some peas, go nasty, foul and rotten. Some peas, yet difficult, are best left forgotten. Such is the life of friendship and love, Such is the life, of peas and pods.
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 