Choral speaking success

WORTHY winners . . . Philip Hibbert, vice-president of the Rotary Club of Oldham Metro, presents the trophy to Elicia Rawsthorne, watched by fellow St Hugh’s pupils who took part and teacher Karen Barton

PUPILS at St Hugh’s Primary School were in fine voice to scoop some silverware.

The Holts school received the Audrey Carter Trophy from the recent Oldham Primary Schools Choral Speaking Festival.

Some 2,000 youngsters, aged from four to 11, took part in the event at the Oldham Coliseum with the cup being one of five handed out.

Poems recited at the festival varied from Prospero’s speech in “The Tempest” and Wordsworth’s “Daffodils” to the works of Roald Dahl and Spike Milligan.

It is organised by the Rotary Club of Oldham Metro, in conjunction with the council’s people, communities and society department, to promote pupils’ confidence in performing and their appreciation of poetry.

It’s the 25th anniversary of the festival, which has seen more than 37,000 children take part.

Organiser Mel Farrar said: “It’s brilliant that schools can raise to such a level and they got a distinction as well. The festival was really good.”

The award was named after Mrs Carter, an adjudicator for more than 20 years, to honour her services to choral speaking. She was particularly keen to see youngsters challenge themselves.