Let us tell you a story

Springhead Infant and Nursery School year 2.

OLDHAM youngsters were in full voice for the uplifting 29th Choral Speaking Festival — one of the biggest of its kind in the world.

More than 2,000 pupils crammed into Oldham Parish Church to perform poems and stories for the annual event, organised by Oldham Metro Rotary Club.

More than 70 groups from schools across the borough took part in the three-day festival, the largest in the world outside Hong Kong.

Ann Warr, international adjudicator, said: “Teamwork has been very evident and the way in which many groups have incorporated movement to support their vocal work has been very impressive.”

Pleasure
Festival MC Mel Farrar, who has been involved with the event for the last 29 years, said: “It has again been a great pleasure and privilege to see the enthusiasm of the children. The festival has certainly fulfilled its aims of promoting confidence in the spoken word.” Trophy winners were: St John’s Junior School, Failsworth (Upper Junior), Bare Trees Primary School, Chadderton (Lower Junior), St Matthew’s Primary School Year 2 (Infant), Christ Church CE Chadderton Primary School Years 1-3 (Audrey Carter Trophy), Alexandra Park Primary School (John Cleary Trophy), St Chad’s Primary School Year 5, Uppermill (Madeleine Lindley Trophy).

The adjudicator’s Special Commendations were: Springhead Infant and Nursery School Year 2, Christ Church Chadderton School Years 3-6, St. Mary’s CE School, Greenfield Year 5, St Agnes CE School Years 3-4.

Winners and those with Special Commendations have been invited to appear at a special choral speaking event at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre on Monday, April 22.