Here’s an interesting tale, about a poetic event in Badshot Lea and Hale.

If you fancy yourself as a budding Betjeman or Browning then organisers of the Farnham Poetry Competition have a challenge for you.

The competition run by the Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale as part of the Farnham Literary Festival from March 6 to 16 is back for a fifth year with entries now being accepted.

“This year’s competition has a theme of Unity/Being Together,” said a spokesperson for the event.

“We’re asking entrants to pen a poem about what unites people, or what they wish would unite people, or what it means to be together.”

This year’s competition features four age categories: up to seven, 8-11, 12-16 and over 16s.

Hampshire-based poet Ellora Sutton is a judge of this year's Farnham Poetry Competition
Hampshire-based poet Ellora Sutton was a judge during last year's Farnham Poetry Competition (Farnham Poetry Competition)

Poems should be sent to [email protected] or to St Mark’s Church and Community Centre, Alma Lane, Farnham, GU9 0LT by 5pm on Monday, February 24.

The children’s competition is being judged by popular children’s poet and author Coral Rumble while poet Linda Daruvala will preside over the adult’s competition.

The competition is free to enter and there will be prizes for the first prize-winners and runners-up in all the categories.

The winners will be announced at 5pm on Saturday, March 15, during the poetry final evening at St Mark’s Church in Upper Hale.

There will also be an open mic segment at the event for anyone to share their poetry with the two judges also performing their work.

Entries should include name, contact details and age if entering the 16 and under categories, but the name should not be written on the actual poem.

There will be winners and runners-up in all categories, with results being announced at the awards ceremony.

A stanza or sonnet, you know that you want it, so get writing a poem without fail.