Felpham school children follow in footsteps of Blake

The 250th anniversary of the visionary, artist and poets' birth led the Village Voices group of adult poets to hold a celebration of writing.

They received 54 poems from children aged six to 11 at Bishop Tufnell CoE Junior School and Downview Primary School. Some wrote about Blake, who lived in Felpham between 1800-1803. Others let their minds wander freely.

Four entries from each school were chosen as year winners with another selected as the school's overall winner.

The selection was carried out by a group of Village Voices' members.

Sim Fellowes, the chairman of the organising committee, said: "It was very difficult deciding the best poems.

"The children have done some very imaginative work."

Two members of Village Voices '“ Julia Mason-Jones and Nigel Purchase '“ read out some of the winning poems at the presentation ceremony at St Mary's Centre.

The ceremony also featured a 1,000 presentation from Village Voices towards the fund to install a stained glass window in St Mary's Church in Felpham in memory of Blake. The donation, which was presented to Father Ray Follis, was raised at a dinner dance held by Village Voices.