Salopians compete in Bentley Elocution Competition semi-finals

Third and Fourth Form English pupils filled the Barnes Theatre on Tuesday evening to enjoy this year’s offerings for the Bentley Elocution Competition semi-final 2022.

The Bentley Elocution Prizes are awarded in memory of Thomas Bentley, who served the School for over 50 years and is commemorated by a window on the south side of the School Chapel. Noted for his enthusiasm for reading and his fine voice, Bentley introduced ‘Penny Readings’ in 1867, which may be regarded as the origin of the Bentley Elocution Competition. It remains a major event in the School's annual calendar.

Every student in the Third and Fourth Form takes part in this prestigious competition by learning lines of verse to recite from memory in front of their English classmates.  Their English teachers nominate the strongest performances whose names are put forward for entry into the semi-final.  With all teaching sets represented, every student has the chance of glory, and on Tuesday evening those who had been shortlisted took centre stage to recite their chosen verse in front of their entire year group, hoping to secure a place in the final. 

In a strong field of impressive performances, the successful students were:

Third Form:

• Will O (Ch) with a recital of “Sonnet 73” by Shakespeare
• Gethin H (Rb) with a recital of “The Only English Kid” by Hannah Lowe
• Johnnie T (Rb) with lines from “As You Like It” by Shakespeare
• Violet R (EDH) with a recital of “Sonnet 130” by Shakespeare

Fourth Form

• Libby H (MSH) with a recital of “When I have fears that I may cease to be” by John Keats
• Oscar C (Rb) with a recital of “Midnight on the Great Western” by Thomas Hardy
• Maggie C (M) with a recital of “Sonnet” by Christina Rossetti
• Loic D-B (Ch) with a recital of “Do not stand at my grave and weep” by Mary Elizabeth Fry

The senior section of the competition – which comprises volunteers from the 5^th and 6^th Form – will see the following students perform:

• Luke W (SH, V) with a recital of “Entrance of the Rivers” by Pablo Neruda
• Emily M (MSH, V) with a recital of” The Two” by W H Auden
• Kate W (M, LVI) with a recital of “After Death” by Christina Rossetti
• Zoe M-M (M, LVI) with a recital of "Real Boy/Real Girl" by Max Binder and Mo Crist
• George C (G, UVI) with a recital of “Death be not Proud” by John Donne
• Tabitha W (G, UVI) with a recital of “The Journey” by Mary Oliver
• Isabelle U (G, UVI) with a recital of “The Song of the Old Mother” by W B Yeats

We are all really looking forward to the final of the competition on Monday 28^th February.  We are excited and honoured to welcome poet and film director, Pele Cox, to adjudicate.