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Armistice Day poetry event crowns three Bradford winners

Three youngsters from across the district performed commemorative poems at Kirkgate Shopping on 11 November after winning the ‘Bradford’s Young War Poet’ title.

The annual initiative run by Kirkgate Shopping, which this year partnered with Reading Matters and Anthony Anaxagorou, aims to support the region’s literacy development by giving children the opportunity to celebrate their ancestors by writing a poem for Remembrance Day.

Over 100 students from more than 10 different schools, drama, speech or writing groups entered the competition. Entries were judged by spoken-word artist and author, Anthony Anaxagorou, who will also deliver a workshop at the winner’s school.

The competition crowned 13-year-old Aamna Rafaqat from Bradford Girls’ Grammar School as overall winner with runners up, year six student from Wellington Primary School, Katie Hammond (10), and Finlay Cooper Butters (7) from Horton Park Academy.

Aamna Rafaqat said: “It’s an absolute honour to have won Kirkgate Shopping’s Young War Poet competition. I really enjoyed writing my entry, ‘The Fate of Soldiers’, and loved performing in front of my family and Anthony on Saturday!”

The event was also attended by The Royal British Legion and the Bradford WW1 group which hosted an exhibition telling the story of Bradford in the Great War during the day.

Catherine Riley, centre manager at Kirkgate Shopping, said: “This year we were incredibly impressed by the writing talent from the region’s youngsters. We were moved by the way entrants were able to express themselves through poetry and become immersed in the country’s history. A sincere thank you to all who entered for putting the time and thought into writing such emotive pieces.

“A huge congratulations to Aamna, Katie and Finlay their performances were fantastic showing talent and confidence beyond their years. A big thank you to Anthony for his inspirational and moving performance and for on taking on the very difficult job of judging all the brilliant poems. Thank you also to Reading Matters for supporting us throughout the campaign. We look forward to running the competition again next autumn. Watch this space!”

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