Poet and publisher Sandra Saer, who judged the competition, was delighted with the response. “The competition was intended to be run from Arundel Museum – at present sadly, inevitably, closed, so emailing schools, and informing the local press became the way forward. The press did us proud, with mega coverage, including our reasons for not wanting to allow such an exciting project disappear into the blue. “It has been a friendly and profitable partnership; a fair credit-sharing for Malcolm Farquharson’s devoted interest in the Museum, where he is chairman of the board of trustees, and for my work as poet, writer and publisher of SMH Books. “The emailed response of entries was good, and my job as judge was hard work, because the standard of the entries was very high. “I have to say, bending the original guidelines, by mutual agreement with Malcolm, there are two winners in the 9-11 age group (rather than the original one), and two winners in the 5-8 group (rather than one). And there are six runners-up (not five).” The winning entries: Children’s Poetry Competition Joint winners in the 5-8 years Category: DAFFODIL Daffodil Dancing in the wind A giraffe type thing Forever anchored heads swaying From head to head a spider spinned Orange tipped butterflies fly Dodging the bobbing heads In and out of the flower beds Loving the bright blue spring sky by James Gray, aged six Arundel Church of England Primary School ACE) *** SNAKES Snakes are cool but they don’t live in the pool Some snakes live in trees but you might find them in leaves They grow in eggs but they don’t have legs Some snakes have a venomous bite but they only use it if they have to fight I like snakes because they are great when I grow older one will live on my shoulder Athena Hall, aged 7 St Philip’s Catholic Primary School, Arundel *** Winners in the 9-11 years Category: WEEPING WILLOW Warming in the soft sunlight, as the evening turns to night. Holding onto the tall rough tree, waiting for the wind to carry me… Warming in the soft sunlight, holding on so very tight. Wow! I’m drifting slow but free! Now the wind is carrying me… Warming in the soft sunlight Now I don’t need to fight! Against the wind’s force, Now I F A L L into the river’s source. Warming in the soft sunlight, I’m beginning to see the light! Now I come out of my very short dream, But I am still in the stream. Warming in the soft sunlight, curled up in a ball, tight, tight, tight. Now I’m sinking, slow but sure, I don’t think I’m going to live anymore… I bet your wondering what I am! And why my life was short and brief. The answer it – I am a leaf. Leila Pace, aged 10 St Philip’s School PIGS SNORT, SNORTH, SNORT As the colossal pig laid in the mud The other pig fell with a thud SNORT, SNORT, SNORT The pig heaved himself up And wandered to its trough to sup. SNORT, SHORT, SNORT Food plastered over its face Gobbling its meal at alarming pace. SNORT, SNORT, SNORT Licking his lips and slippery chops Into the mud his body flops SNORT, SNORT, SNORT, Lounging in the slummy so deep Exhausted now, he falls asleep SNORT, SNORT, SNORT James Lee Baxter, aged 10 St Philip’s School *** Confirmation of winners Joint Winners in the 5-8 Category: DAFFODIL by James Gray Year 1, Arundel Church of England School (ACE), aged 6 SNAKES by Athena Hall Year 1, St Philip’s Catholic Primary School, Arundel, aged 7 *** Joint Winners in the 9-11 Category: PIGS by James Lee Baxter Year 5, St Philip’s, aged 10 WEEPING WILLOW by Leila Pace aged 10 Year 5, St Philip’s, aged 10 *** Worthy Runners-up Niah Linard-Salter, aged 6 ‘Undo the world of nature’ Chloe Hilditch, aged 6 ‘The sun is shining in the sky Warmer than an apple pie.’ Joseph White, aged 7 ‘Insects are making new underground homes, So they don’t dry up in the summer.’ Jasper Strang, aged 7 ‘I love Robins because it reminds me of my Nanny.’ Marley Gaddess-Mitchell, aged 6 ‘As I sit here I can see A yellow and black bumble-bee.’ Isla Bradley, aged 9 Jumping, rolling, diving, Going forward to the sea.’ Why running is my lockdown release Chichester Singers combine musically in isolation for beautiful video Lockdown Laughs 4 Parents switches online for comedy in your own home Why walking is what we all need at the moment - especially in glorious Sussex Shakespeare’s Globe makes productions available to watch for free during lockdown How you can still enjoy Sussex delights... from the safety of your armchair Up close but safe: enjoy collections online at Royal Pavilion & Museums in Brighton Chichester orchestra records its own lockdown song Coronavirus: top ten tips for boredom-busting during quarantine Singer and pianist Joe Stilgoe live-streams daily message of hope during the coronavirus crisis Music "more important than ever" in our time of crisis, urges West Sussex Music Coronavirus: live streaming for Sunday morning services at Chichester Cathedral Coronavirus: Festival of Chichester 2020 cancelled ************* A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton: In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers. Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. Stay safe, and best wishes. Gary Shipton Editorial Director