For the fourth year in a row, the parish has had the privilege and pleasure of putting on the Farnham Poetry Competition as part of the Farnham Literary Festival, and the results were announced at an awards ceremony and open mic on Saturday, March 15th, at St Mark’s Church.

Poets as young as five and into their 90s took part, showing extraordinary creativity and talent as they tackled the subject of unity, something that is sorely lacking in the 21st century world, but which is surely an attribute of the one God, source of creativity, unity and love.

Poets Coral Rumble and Linda Daruvala were the judges of the 16s and under and over-16s categories respectively and had a tough job deciding on the winners. However, decisions had to be made and the results are below. Click on the links to read the poems.

Over-16s winners

Highly commended:

One good foot – Richard Lister
Shared Disbelief – Lucie Rhoades
Rainbow – Cosmo Goldsmith
ONE – Chandra McGowan 
Forty years on –   Liz Kendall
Sword Dance, Woodland Stage – Liz Kendall
The twenty first century is not a friend of unity – Chris Hunter
THREE YEARS ON – Kate Young

Third prize:
New Atlantis – Liam Smith

Second prize:
‘direction of travel’ – Kate Kennington Steer 

First prize:
Of Touch – Richard Lister 

16 and under winners

12-16s

Highly commended:

Unity Poem – George Lovelock
Together – Jessica Jones

Third prize:
Timeless Duality – Emily Peters

Second prize:
Stars – Andrea Domingo

First prize:
But they still forget – Evie Goode

8-11s

Highly commended

Unity – Najia Eshaal Ali
Unity – Eesha Haque
When – Peggy Wingham

Third prize:
Me and You – Imogen Clark

Second prize:
What It Means to be Together – Alice Colombini de Mello and Penny Lockyer

First prize:
Family Brings Us Together – Max Heath

Under 7s

Joint first prize:
Family – Dolcie Della Jennings
Unity “Means Humanity First” – Naqasha Nawal Ali –