Farnham’s poetic voices took centre stage at the weekend as residents of all ages showcased their lyrical talents at a special event.

The winners of the annual Farnham Poetry Competition were announced at an awards evening held at St Mark’s Church on Saturday (March 15) as part of the Farnham Literary Festival.

Now in its fourth year, the competition continues to celebrate creativity across generations.

This year’s theme, unity, inspired a diverse range of interpretations, with entries exploring topics ranging from motherhood to reflections on a spirited octogenarian, to an encounter with an elderly African tribal chief.

In addition to the prize-giving, the evening featured live performances of the winning poems, with writers bringing their own words to life. There was also an open mic session, giving other local poets the opportunity to share their work.

Judges Linda Daruvala and Coral Rumble, who oversaw the over-16s and under-16s categories respectively, had the challenging task of selecting winners from a strong field of entrants.

After careful consideration, the judges ultimately decided on the following results: In the over-16s category, Richard Lister was awarded first place for his poem ‘Of Touch’, while in the 12-16s category, Evie Goode claimed first place with ‘But They Still Forget’.

Max Heath triumphed in the 8-11s category with ‘Family Brings Us Together’, while in the under-7s category, joint first place was awarded to ‘Family’ by Dolcie Della Jennings and ‘Unity Means Humanity First’ by Naqasha Nawal Ali.

The poets all showcased remarkable creativity as they explored the idea of unity—an increasingly pertinent theme in today’s fractured world.

The Farnham Poetry Competition remains a cherished part of the Farnham Literary Festival, bringing together the community in celebration of the power of words.