Labour candidate for Portsmouth South Stephen Morgan has congratulated the winners of his D-Day poetry competition following last week’s commemorations.
Mr Morgan launched the competition ahead of the D-Day 80 commemorations in Portsmouth for local school children to become involved in the city’s remembrance, while learning more about this pivotal part of Portsmouth’s World War II history.
The winners were local pupils Florence from St Jude’s Church of England Primary School and Mitchelle from St Edmund’s Catholic School.
The competition received great entries from Mayville High School, Priory School, The Portsmouth Academy, The Harbour School, Ark Charter Academy, St Edmund’s Catholic School, Portsmouth High School, Fernhurst Junior School, St Jude’s Church of England Primary School, Wimborne Primary School and St Georges Beneficial Church of England Primary School.
Winners were decided by a judging panel including Mr Morgan and two local veterans, Derek and Alex.
The competition was open for all Portsmouth South school students and winners were chosen from Primary and Secondary school age categories.
Winners will receive a small prize and their poem will be shared on Mr Morgan’s social media.
Commenting, Labour candidate for Portsmouth South Stephen Morgan said:
“Last week’s D-Day commemorations were special for our city, allowing us to pay tribute to those whose bravery and sacrifice gave us the freedom we all enjoy today, and ensure their legacy is passed onto the next generation.
“As part of this, I was keen to ensure young people in Portsmouth got involved in the commemorations while learning more about this pivotal part of our history.
“It was therefore fantastic to receive so many brilliant entries to our poetry competition from so many local schools.
“It was very difficult to decide on the winners given the quality of the poems submitted, so very well done to Florence from St Jude’s Church of England Primary School, and Mitchelle from St Edmund’s Catholic School who won the prizes for their excellent entries.”
Mr Morgan, the grandson of a D-Day veteran, last week thanked the organisers of the D-Day 80 commemorations saying the events helped pass on the legacy of our heroic veterans to the next generation.
