Live lines at poetry project
PUPILS from all eight Todmorden primary schools came together to perform poems they have created as part of the Todmorden Touchwood project.
Every performer received a certificate for their efforts at the poetry slam at Ferney Lee School and there were prizes for each school as well as individual awards for outstanding performance.
Craig Bradley, a member of the Touchwood team who compered the event, thought it had been fantastic. He said: "Everybody got involved and enjoyed themselves. Some of the kids got dressed up and went to a lot of trouble. They learned the words off by heart which takes some guts when you are in front of 200 people.
"It's been great working with the schools starting, developing and then performing the poems.
"I hope they keep going. There are some really good poets there."
Pupils from Castle Hill School kicked things off with a Castle Hill rap, a cheerleading routine and a poem about Churn Milk Joan.
Todmorden C of E School performed a selection of poems about topics including family, animals and the Pendle witches, followed by a group poem by Walsden Infant School about the legend of Walsden.
"Stan the Burnley fan", "My fabulous grandad" and "Favourite foods" were the subjects of some of St Joseph's School's literary creations while Shade School selected from topics including scrapbooks, World War II and the ghost of John Fielden.
Ferney Lee School performed a story poem about UFOs entitled "Strike a light on Stoodley Pike", as well as some individual poems, and Walsden Junior School delivered group poems.
Cornholme School brought proceedings to a close with their individual poems about subjects ranging from football to pets.
Mr Bradley thanked the Heritage Lottery for providing funding, Ferney Lee School for hosting the poetry slam and all the teachers who worked on the project.
Project coordinator Paul Degnan was very pleased with the event. He said: "The poems were excellent and there was some real talent coming through."
Charlotte Holland, also a member of the Touchwood team, said: "The kids enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. It's great to see them up on stage performing."
The project, a collaboration between The Shaggy Dog Storyteller Club, in association with Todmorden Children's Centre, and Calderdale Council, began in October 2007 with the aim of bringing together stories about the history of Todmorden to create a new piece of work to represent the town in the 21st century.
The final celebration will be held in Todmorden Town Hall on June 20 when all the children will perform their poems and their artwork will be on display.
For more information, visit www.todmordentouchwood.com. The poems created by the pupils during the project can also be read on the website.
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Wednesday 30 May 2012
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