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.
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
Calling all poets – beginners, experts and those who dabble from time to time. Get writing because the Farnham Poetry Competition is back again.
The competition, now in its fifth year (we started with a lockdown poetry competition in 2020), is run by the parish as part of the Farnham Literary Festival which takes place from March 6-16.
The 2025 poetry competition has the theme of Unity/Being Together and entrants are asked to write a poem about what unites people or what they wish would unite people, or what it means to be together.
There are four age categories this year: up to age seven, eights to 11s, 12s to16s, and over 16s. Poems should be sent to poetry@badshotleaandhale.org or to St Mark’s Church and Community Centre, Alma Lane, Farnham, GU9 0LT to arrive by 5pm on Monday, February 24. Please include your name separately from your entry and, if entering the 16 and younger categories, add your age to the bottom of your poem.
The children’s poetry competition is being judged by popular children’s poet and author Coral Rumble and the adult one by poet Linda Daruvala.
The competition is free to enter and there will be prizes for the first prize-winners and runners-up in all the categories. The winners will be announced at the poetry final evening on Saturday, March 15, at St Mark’s Church, Upper Hale, at 5pm, when there will also be an open mic for anyone to share their poetry, and the two judges will also perform their work.
Entries should include name, contact details and age if entering the 16 and under categories, but the name should not be written on the actual poem. There will be winners and runners-up in all categories and these will be announced at the awards ceremony and open mic on March 15.
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.
Did you enter the Farnham Poetry Competition? If so, come to the awards evening on March 9th to find out if you have won. And even if you didn’t enter, come to hear some great poems from the winners, shortlisted poets and others who just fancy a go during our ‘open mic’ session. You can also hear our judges, Linda Daruvala and Coral Rumble perform their poetry.
The theme of this year’s competition was friendship and the awards evening will take place at St Mark’s, Upper Hale, from 5pm on 9th, with the under-16s’ awards being presented first so that children can leave early if they wish.
There will be an interval with refreshments and it will be a fun, stimulating evening.
The Farnham Poetry Competition is returning, run once more by the parish as part of the Farnham Literary Festival which runs this year between March 1 and 10.
This year, the theme is friendship and adults and children alike are invited to write a poem on friendship: what it means to us, who our friends are, why we like them, why friends are important, anything to do with friendship.
There is a children’s competition, open to under-16s, and an adult one and all poems should be sent by email to poetry@badshotleaandhale.org or by post to Farnham Poetry Competition, St Mark’s Church, Alma Lane, Farnham, GU9 0LT, to arrive by 5pm on Friday, February 23.
The children’s poetry competition is being judged by poet Coral Rumble and the adult one by poet Linda Daruvala. The competition is free to enter and there will be prizes for the first prize-winners and runners-up in both categories. The winners will be announced at the poetry final evening on Saturday, March 9, at St Mark’s Church at 5pm, when there will also be an open mic for anyone to share their poetry, and the two judges will also perform their work.
Linda DaruvalaCoral Rumble
Stella Wiseman, who is leading the organisation of the competition, said: “We are so pleased to be running the competition again. There is a huge amount of talent out there exhibited by people of all ages and backgrounds and I am really looking forward to this year’s entries and to see what people make of the theme of friendship. We chose it because friendship is vital to our wellbeing. Humans are social beings and we need each other. I think this is something that lockdown emphasised for us all and we are still living with the effects of those months. So let’s celebrate friendship this year!
“We are delighted to have our old friend Coral Rumble back again to judge the under-16s entries and to welcome Linda Daruvala to judge the adults. They will both be performing at the poetry awards evening on March 9 at St Mark’s and are well worth seeing live.”
Your June magazine is out, packed full of news of our fete, craft market, ordinations, a talk on supporting people with autism, a barn dance to celebrate St Mark’s 140th birthday and much more.
You can pick up a paper copy in the churches or download it here to find out the latest news about upcoming events in the parish, along with reflections on what has already happened, prayer, poetry, situations vacant and adverts from tradespeople in the parish.
You can also have the magazine sent straight to your inbox. Email editor@badshotleaandhale.org to find out more.
We don’t put up a paywall but if you are reading online we would be grateful for payment. You can pay yearly (£10) or whenever you download the magazine (£1). To pay either click here or make a payment to: Badshot Lea & Hale PCC, Sort Code 40-52-40, Account No. 00025717.
Your April magazine is out now, full of information, news and views, including what is happening this Holy Week as we approach Easter. There are details about Holy Week meditations, Good Friday and Easter services and a Good Friday Walk of Witness, as well as events after Easter. Did you know we are organising a Gin Evening with local distiller Nibbs Gin? And we have a quiz evening coming up too, plus a plant sale, a Christian Aid concert and much more!
You can also read the winning poems in the Farnham Poetry Competition, hear about Open the Book, and find out what groups like the WI are doing. There is prayer and some thoughts from the Ministry Team and the Church Cat!
A massive thank you to all those who took part in the Farnham Literary Festival’s Poetry Competition which the parish organised on behalf of the festival.
We had an incredible 138 entries which came from Farnham and much further afield, as far, in fact, as Nepal! And around 100 people gathered at St Mark’s on March 11th to find out who had won and to hear poetry readings from the winners, runners-up and anyone else who wanted to read. We also heard from the two wonderful judges –Ellora Sutton who judged the adult poems, andCoral Rumble who did the same for the under-16s. Please read their work!
And the winners were…
Under-16
First prize The Robin by Margot Sidwell-Woods
Second prize Many Tongues, One Voice by Jet Pariera-Jenks
Third prize Hope by Thomas James
Highly commended Save Us by Daisy Brice Hope for Autism by Monty Monro Be Hopeful by Hannah Jakobek Hopeful Poem by Kobi Green Hope by Alice Howell I hope for a Dog by Lyra Buttery Hope by Jessica Mellor A Handful of Hope by Florence Champion Hope by Alina Liepsch Hope by Jaxson Wright
Adult
First prize Insomnia and Death of the Queen by Rodney Wood
Second prize Sift andScatter by Chris Hunter
Third prize There is a Light that Never Goes Out by Liz Usher
Highly commended Frensham by Victoria D’Cruz Sunday Lunch by Lorna Darcy Looking for Hope by Mel Cracknell Worship by Vicky Samara
And now for the poems:
Under-16s
First Prize The Robin by Margot Sidwell-Woods
The sky is dark Sluggishly grey We trudge along Through the ashen day And on this morning With its charcoal tint There’s a flutter of feathers A robin’s beak and wings Its eyes are bright And its breast is red It ruffles its feathers And tips back its head And melody pours out Splashing into the air High, sweet notes That don’t belong there But one day they could In a new clear sky And, like this bird, I could learn to fly I turn to stare At the red over its heart And my mouth twitches It’s a smile Small – but it’s a start
Second Prize Many Tongues, One Voice by Jet Pariera-Jenks
The National History Museum has opened its doors And children are scouting the corridors Gazing at evolution’s historic trail From fierce dinosaurs to slow sea snails Fascinated by ancient fossils and bones And marvelling at geodes captured in stone.
But the scene that draws everyone’s eyes Swims above them as if the seas filled the skies The skeleton of a blue whale hangs in the air And all the children stand and stare They crane their necks to the ceiling to see This oceanic creature of nature’s beauty.
They point and gape at her white bleached bones In their hands lie forgotten their cameras and phones One boy turns to another and grins “Isn’t Dóchas the whale a beautiful thing!” His Irish accent is thick and his companion frowns “This whale is called Haffnung, she swims where we’d drown.”
A Spanish girl interrupts the German’s words “No! She’s Esperanza, it’s wrong what you’ve heard.” More children are adding names to the fray “She’s Von!” “Tanna!” “Tumanako!” Everyone wants a say Children start quarrelling, a fight breaks out The once peaceful museum echoes with screams and shouts.
They argue about the whale’s name Kicking and punching without decency or shame Until an old man holds up his hands for quiet “Children, there is no need for this angry riot!” The museum echoes with the hush All the youngsters look away and blush.
“You’re all right, the whale is called Dóchas, Hoffnung, Von and Esperanzas Because all of these words are one and the same They all mean hope, and Hope is this whale’s name She hopes that her sisters are safe in the sea And that we stop hunting her kin so needlessly.”
Hope is important in all walks of life We should unite our voices to keep it alive Instead of quarrelling when none of us are wrong We should spread the message through poems, laughter and song Through war ridden countries and earthquake-shaken ground Let’s join hands in hope, let the beauty resound.
After Jalaluddin Rumi, 16th century Sufi mystic
Third prize Hope by Thomas James
Hope.. it is in all of us; in soldiers during wars in doctors when performing operations in all of our friends and families … in you
Sometimes it is hard to find sometimes it is hidden in the depths sometimes we feel we lose it but remember it is always with you
Once you find hope all your goals will be within reach so there is no need to mope and that’s what I am trying to teach
Hope is in all of us In the strong and the brave In the weak and the shy In the happy and the sad Hope is in all of us
… and it is the most important thing….
Highly Commended
I Hope for a Dog by Lyra Buttery
I hope I get a dog, I’ll walk it every day, Even if it’s rainy, I’ll still go out to play. I’ll feed her in the morning and in the evening too, And when we go for walks she’ll do a great big poo! I hope she will be small, brown and fluffy, And I will brush her every day so she doesn’t get too scruffy. I hope she jumps on the bed at night. And sometimes gives me a terrible fright. I hope to call her Daisy And I’ll love her, even if she’s crazy.
A Handful of Hope by Florence Champion
Everyone Has a Handful of Hope Hidden in their pocket. It helps you think, helps you cope When you’re struggling.
Some say hope is red, Some say it’s yellow, Green, Blue. But who is actually telling the truth? Well everyone is correct, As hope is not just one thing, But many things, Many items, Many thoughts, Many communities brought together. That’s hope.
Hope doesn’t always work, Although it cheers you up on a gloomy day, Takes you away from things, Things that put obstacles in the way, Of achieving your dreams.
Yes, of achieving your dreams Those things called doubt and worry and fear, They line up on display, They try and pull down tears from your eyes – They make you afraid. But as I said, You can take all of those things away, If you have a handful of hope, Hidden in your pocket, As it helps you think, helps you cope, When you’re struggling.
Hope by Alina Liepsch
Hope is a special something We cannot live without. We can all have hope, And we should not doubt.
We hope things will get better, When everything goes wrong. Hope gives us what we need, It helps us to stay strong.
It keeps us going when we’re tired, And helps us when we fall. If we hope for what we already have, Then that’s not hope at all.
But hope for what we can’t yet see, Means patience, calm and waiting. When we have something to believe It makes a life worth living.
Hope by Jaxson Wright
In a world full of war Sadness and pain, When the winters are cold And pouring with rain, When people are hungry Homeless and poor Nowhere to sleep Except the dirty wet floor, The glimmer of hope That brightens the sky, That spring is coming The floors will get dry, The sound of laughter Will fill the warm air, I hope we are happy I hope that hopes there.
Hope by Jessica Mellor When there’s an ominous hole in the back of your mind, You feel like drowning, struggling to survive. When you think your incarcerated in your grave, Hope is only found from among the brave, The never-ending dissatisfaction that is suffocating within you, You’re entrapped in your mind, not knowing what to do. Everyone struggles from time to time, Not understanding life, thinking that’s a crime. But if you look into the distance, there’s a shining light, Part of your individuality can radiate so bright. Not knowing there’s a way out, A place to escape, Not seeing there’s a hope, It’s easy to lose your way. Tring to navigate a path, Just trying to stay alive, Just to keep breathing To get through the day and night. Even through the darkest of times, There are glimpses of hope, But sometimes not clear enough to see, For some it’s far too much to cope.
Hope for Autism By Monty Munro
A Person with autism is Underestimated Talking without emotion Inventive – thinking outside the box Struggles academically Tedious it feels Imaginative thinking Creative thoughts
Hopeful Poem by Kobi Green
Hope is a wonderful thing it surrounds everyone From the stars To the tiny, tiny bees The whole world is surrounded by it You just have to find it.
Be hopeful By Hannah Jakobek
Have faith in yourself. Open your mind. People need to have hope. Eventually it will work out. Free from pain. Uniquely you. Look for hope wherever you are. Live in the moment. You are amazing.
Hope By Alice Howell
I Hope for lots and lots of chocolate at Easter. I Hope the Easter Bunny comes. I Hope for candyfloss and cuddles. I Hope for lots of fun and family. I Hope for sunshine.
Save Us By Daisy Brice
Darkness, fear, hate, all of this is an empty void People waiting for it all to change gears for a brighter day. I sat under a range of leaves on a tree Thunder hit the three trees Leaves falling and crying. The world Dark falling, evil walks past us. But I hope the retrieval of the Greatness Hope with hope The sky bright with a little rain for the crops Icebergs safe Everything is alright Forests huge with something to prove But this could be through Unless we Dream incredible Dreams You can save us all You need to hope.
Adults
First Prize INSOMNIA AND DEATH OF THE QUEEN by Rodney Wood
At night, when all the colours die / they read about themselves in colour / with their eyelids shut Craig Raine, A Martian Sends A Postcard Home
My sleep routine starts after the news at 10.30. I flip through 119 TV channels which don’t feature actual programmes only clips of the Queen, Paddington Bear, marmalade sandwiches and adverts I’m not interested in.
After that I take umpteen supplements: lavender, valerian root, melatonin, magnesium, a glass of Dom Pérignon, listen to “Clair de Lune” by Debussy, have a warm shower, a light snack, write a to do list, put away my phone before the sleep cycle can begin.
Last night, 8 September 2022, for example, I shut my eyes to an empty screen before clips of the Queen, Paddington Bear, marmalade sandwiches and adverts I’m not interested in about paperless TV licences, buying
and selling cars, star sign based cuisine, bread, burgers, avocados, life insurance, slots, EuroMillions, swimwear, equity release, shirts, video poker, loans, beer, smoothies, mints, holidays in Greece, mobile telephones, roulette, perfume, coffee machines, Kane to score next,
sunscreen, boilers, hemp extracts, home delivery, hair colouring, online casino, racing, video bingo, chocolate, biscuits, cough drops, trains, credit, online sports betting, home insulation, insurance, hemp extracts, trainers, how to stop
gambling, gambling and more gambling, 5 minute party political broadcasts on behalf of All 4 Freedom, Charter, Family, Scotland – Unhyphenated, Climate, Rubbish, Church of the Militant Elvis, Count Binface, Motherworld and the other 337 political parties.
After that another clip of afternoon tea with the Queen, Paddington Bear, marmalade sandwiches and only then, the alarm goes. Another sleep interrupted but there’s always hope I’ll sleep before the next coronation.
Second Prize Sift and Scatter by Chris Hunter
I stood in that yellow, searing heat; a blasted amalgam of sift and scatter. A scape shaped of grief, shimmer, pine roots and shadows cast by cypress, as black as sump oil.
The unplanned end to a furnace thickened, crumpled stumble from gate to tree to stone.
In the autumnal chill of chain grey, that land remains neutral. Just yellowed grass and cold dirt. Now, instead, it is a sultry, soured, shifting molasses of emotion.
The moment draws me down to the ground. This strange gravity of everyone interred. Once strangers but now unified in soil, to clay, to sand.
The words of everyone who has passed, fusing and dividing for those who wish to hear it. The whispers of the next day, early light after loss, the quiet voice from another room. The unmercenary kiss to the brow. Dates forgotten. Emotion not.
Now this place gives back all that has been taken from those who lie here and those who got to walk away. It gives back each regret in one long breath of scoria-laden intent. It raises strange hope from former pain and leaves a message throughout the earth beneath my feet.
There in that dust blown sift and scatter. You have gone. You really have gone. Though you knew this place and we are both here, sharing that hope that you said once lost, would lose you.
Third Prize There is a light that never goes out By Liz Usher If Hope is a thing with feathers it fell down our chimney last night and came to its rest on a red-brick dust nest behind our gas flame-effect fire. We’ve not used the gas fire for ages – we daren’t turn it on for the cost… but hope springs eternal in appliance infernal, you can’t turn the pilot light off.
Highly commended
Frensham by Victoria D’Cruz
Small pebbles rock beneath our feet Cold wet toes curling The wind whips your lack of hair not flying now My thick locks knotting with fear We leave our clothes, laid neatly for our return We walk, uttering only smiles of encouragement.
I used to run straight in Embracing the cold shudder that hit my perter chest. Sending my heart racing, that weird feeling when I thought of you. Breath gasping Quickening the panic.
My Dad told me it’s not real sand and swans could break my arms.
Today together I edge in at the precipice. Swimming shoes hiding my unmanicured nails, tow-float spread around my middle age Little by little I stop, step until the tiny waves comes to me I move to them controlling my breath. In…. Hold…. Out… Drawing imaginary squares of air. Thighs Waist Boobs Shoulders The rush as a hopeful laugh slaps me in the face.
Sunday Lunch by Lorna Darcy
Whenever we have roast chicken For lunch on a Sunday And the carcass, Pale and broken open Sits steaming, Speared on the carving block Peeled carrots, Peas seething, Potatoes and parsnips burnished, He carefully frees the wishbone From the frame of the bird. Strips the malleable white flesh from the brittle bones. Holding up the delicate V, He wraps his little finger round one Tine And offers the other, Jagged as a tooth, To me.
I pinch it between thumb and forefinger To get a better grip Knowing with unbreakable, unshakeable certainty That when we pull apart, He will come away with the greater portion. Always the victor. The good futures wishbone Aloft like a ragged pennant In his finger. In all the times we have enacted This minute ritual I have never, ever won.
And yet, he offers it to me, and there is always hope.
Looking for Hope by Mel Cracknell
My son wore red The tense is past A clue, a statement, a feeling or reality? Mine His
The robin wakes at dawn stays until nightfall. How do I know? His song is his voice he tells the world here I am.
Come and find out the winners of the Farnham Poetry Competition at an Awards Evening which will be held at St Mark’s Church on Saturday, March 11th, from 5pm.
The winning entries to both the adult and under-16 competition will be revealed along with second- and third-place and highly commended entries in an evening which will also feature an open mic for all local poets, and performances by the two judges Ellora Sutton and Coral Rumble.
It’s been an amazing competition with almost 150 entries, all on the theme of hope, from near and far, including an entry from Nepal. The winners will have the chance to read their work then everyone else will be invited to come forward and read.
The evening starts at 5pm so that children can leave early at the interval at around 6.15pm if they wish. Refreshments will be served and admission is free.
The children’s poetry competition is being judged by poet Coral Rumble and the adult one by poet Ellora Sutton. Ellora is a Hampshire-based poet and museum person. Her work has been published in The Poetry Review, The North, bath magg, and Popshot, among others, and she reviews poetry for Mslexia. Her latest pamphlet, Antonyms for Burial, was published in 2022 by Fourteen Poems and is the Poetry Book Society’s Spring 2023 Pamphlet Choice. She tweets @ellora_sutton, or you can find her at ellorasutton.com
Coral Rumble is a popular, award-winning poet, with five poetry collections, plus 170+ anthology contributions. The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat (picture book) was longlisted for the Oscars Book Prize Award.
Coral won the Caterpillar Poetry Prize, 2018. Her collections have been promoted by education magazines and shortlisted for awards. Her verse novel, LittleLight (2021) was a recommendation for National Poetry Day 2021, and was a chosen text for Empathy Day 2022. It has also been longlisted for the UKLA Book Awards 2023. Her debut novel, Jakub’s Otter will be published in 2023.
The Farnham Poetry Competition is run in conjunction with the Farnham Literary Festival which runs until March 12.
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