A TALENTED performer from King George V College has competed in a prestigious poetry recitation competition.



Advanced Level student Hannah McCoy, aged 17 from Skelmersdale, competed against scores of budding orators from across the region by reciting challenging literary masterpieces at the British Library in London.

Hannah went before a panel of distinguished judges including Glyn Maxwell, Patience Gabi and Tim Dee at the British Library, in order to recite literary works which included C. P. Cavafy’s ‘The God Abandons Antony’ and ‘The Second Coming’, by W. B. Yeats.

Co-founded by former poet laureate Andrew Motion, the ‘Poetry by Heart’ contest is aimed at engaging young people from diverse social backgrounds in the pleasures of poetry. The inspirational competition is open to all pupils in England aged between 14 and 18.

Hannah, who is studying A levels in Music, Performing Arts, Media Studies and Latin at KGV, said: “I chose these two poems because I loved the history of them, but still they’re relevant to society today. Both poems are very emotionally complex; the mood shifts so many times and this made them fun to recite!

“I feel so lucky to have been a part of the competition, and I know that it has already helped me take huge strides towards my future. I can never express how honoured I felt to be there, how much it has pushed me to try new things, and how it's shown me I should reach towards anything I want to do.”

Hannah was encouraged to enter the competition by her Progress Coach, Steve, and Learning Centre Facilitator Catherine, who runs the competition at KGV each year.

“I received amazing support from everyone at KGV. The letters, card and emails I received spurred me on massively, and made me feel so lucky to have been offered this opportunity,” said Hannah.

King George V College is renowned for its success stories in the performing arts, with all students achieving high grades in Advanced Level BTEC Performing Arts last summer and having hosted two hugely popular college productions, ‘High School Musical’ and ‘The Wiz’ since last year.

Jonathan Cotterall, Deputy Director of Study Programmes at KGV, said, “Hannah is a hard-working, completely reliable, talented, self-effacing student who quietly but effectively produces work of a consistently high standard.”

Hannah added, “Since being at KGV and taking part in such amazing, enriching subjects and additional activities, I’ve already got a clearer view on what I want to do in life. Every lesson I have is a step forward to achieving exactly that, and I enjoy every minute of it.”

Excellent, well done.