Little voices stand tall

SPEAKING up . . . pupils from St Herbert’s School show off their choral skills

PERFECT poetry and prose filled Oldham Coliseum during the first day of the annual Choral Speaking Festival yesterday.

Pupils from primary schools across the borough took to the stage to show off their speaking skills.

Now in its 26th year, the festival has been organised by the Rotary Club of Oldham Metro. It aims to encourage children’s enjoyment of poetry and develop their confidence when speaking in public or before an audience.

The festival concludes today and will be closed by Veronica Jackson, executive director of people, communities and society at Oldham Council. Around 1,600 pupils took part in total.