Impressive performances at Bentley Elocution Prize 2026

The annual Bentley Elocution prize competition took place on Tuesday 24^th February, in the Barnes Theatre. 

The enduring appeal of this competition ensured a large field who had survived the preliminary heats to come forward to recite their chosen poems before an expectant audience.

Mr Phillips was in charge of proceedings and he ensured that the evening passed smoothly and pleasantly, producing one of the most successful competitions in recent memory.  The Third Form proved an attentive and appreciative audience and a supportive and genial atmosphere ensured that all the competitors, even those who found the pressure of performance a little daunting, enjoyed the event.

This year’s judge was author Julia Tuffs.  With experience of teaching in primary schools and working in television, as well as her successful career as a writer, she was very well placed to pass judgement on this event.  She offered all the contestants encouragement, advice and appreciation, coming to her conclusions quickly and justifying her choices with sensitivity. 

All the performances were extremely engaging, with lines of verse delivered with an impressive level of clarity, purpose and understanding.  All the participants are to be congratulated for their courage, commitment and talent.   The results were:

Third Form:

Winner: Eddy W-O (O) reciting William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 19.

Highly Commended: Emily B (MSH) reciting Karen McCullah-Lutz & Kirsten Smith’s 10 Things I hate about you.

Fourth Form:

Winner: Amanda R (Q) reciting her own poem, The Burning of the Seeds.

Highly Commended: Leo T (O) reciting William Shakespeare’s Who is Sylvia?

Fifth and Sixth Form:

Winner: Lulu G (Q) reciting Walt Whitman’s Oh Captain!  My Captain!

Highly Commended:  Dominic T (SH) reciting lines from T S Eliot’s The Waste Land.

Our grateful thanks are extended to all the competitors, their supporters, the judge and Mr Phillips for providing us with such excellent entertainment.  For those who may be interested, we also recommend Julia Tuff’s new book, 45 Things to do before you’re 45: A Novel.

 Mrs Kristina Leslie, Head of English