Poetry by Heart

English Teacher, Finola Picknett, writes: Lizzie Davis represented the School at the Poetry by Heart competition, held at The Old Fire Station on Tuesday night. The competition was ferocious and involved pupils from schools across Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire. Mike Dixon, one of the event’s organisers, specifically commented on the extraordinarily high standard of delivery from each of the contestants from these two counties.

Lizzie was flawless and fluent in her choice of poems: Donne’s ‘The Good Morrow’ and Edna St Vincent Milloy’s ‘I, being born a woman and distressed’. Her delivery was perfect — poised and compelling. She was a joy to work with in preparing the poems for the competition; click here to listen to her performance on Radio Oxford at the weekend.

After a lengthy process of deliberation, the competition winner was Josie Wright from St Crispin’s School, with second place awarded to Mila Perera from Oxford High. Congratulations to them both and thanks to all who participated in the event for an evening of wonderful poetry, so richly presented by all who took part.

Of her involvement, Lizzie said, ‘Taking part in Poetry by Heart gave me invaluable experience of performing and presenting in front of a live audience. It also gave me the chance to read, learn and recite more poetry, something I very much enjoy. The county final was a great opportunity to listen to other people’s interpretations of their chosen poem, and I especially loved listening to professional poets recite some of their own work!  Although it was hard work, I thoroughly enjoyed it – and I could not have done it without help and guidance from Mrs Picknett.’

Lizzie (far left) is pictured with fellow contestants and presenter Will Gompertz at BBC Radio Oxford.