OXON YOUNGSTER WINS FIRST PLACE
IN CHARLEY BOORMAN'S POETRY COMPETITION
November 2009
listen to Charley reading Brigid's poem
Dyslexia Action is very proud to announce that Brigid Davidson (11), a dyslexic pupil at Sibford School, has been awarded first place for her excellent poem in actor and adventurer Charley Boorman’s competition.
Charley Boorman, who is also President of Dyslexia Action, comments: “The standard of the entries was excellent and the competition was tough. However, being dyslexic I could really identify with Brigid’s poem; she has done exceptionally well and I am sure her family must be very proud of her.”
Working in partnership with Readathon and supported by Connaught Education and children’s newspaper First News, the Dyslexia Action President ran a poetry competition that asked children aged 4 – 14 years to write about what reading meant to them; each entry had to start with the words ‘Reading is …’.
The competition was judged by Brough Girling, chairman of Readathon, who commented: ‘Judging something like this is terribly difficult. However, I was looking in particular for poems where the personality of the writer comes through – where they are writing what they really feel about reading, and not merely what they think a poem about reading should be like! On this criteria Brigid, who obviously finds reading difficult, is my clear winner.”
As part of the top three winners’ prizes Charley has been filmed reading their poems and this footage is now available to view on Dyslexia Action’s website.
Charley Boorman adds: “Reading is something that those who do it well take for granted but for those of us who are dyslexic this is something that we have to work hard to master! In Brigid’s words, ‘Reading is a twisting turning path with lots of obstacles I must pass’.
“Dyslexia does not affect intelligence and for those daunted by the very thought of reading there is help and support available and your literacy difficulties do not have to be a barrier to success.”
Brigid’s poem is:
Reading is a twisting turning path
With lots of obstacles I must pass
Why does it have to be so hard
To even read my birthday card
Words are like leaves on a steady breeze
Scattering all around me
But here comes the deadly mist
That I must read my spelling list
~ ENDS ~
For more press and media information please contact Kerry Bennett: 01784 222312 / 07841 672040 or visit Dyslexia Action’s website at www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk
Sibford School, Sibford Ferris, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX15 5QL Telephone: +44 (0)1295 781200