An evening of poetry...

...yes, you read that correctly. Organised by Oliver House School in South London, and it was absolutely delightful. A packed hall,great enthusiasm, delightful children reciting some wonderful verse,a roar of applause greeting Roald Dahl's magnificent tirade on the subject of TV. I had the unenviable task of being one of the judges, and the delightful task of presenting the prizes and the Trophy to the final overall winner. Everyone entered into the spirit of the evening with great goodwill - it was honestly one of the happiest of gatherings I've ever attended in the London suburbs. There was a joyful and solid timelessness about it - thus might our ancestors, down through the centuries, have rallied to enjoy themselves on a February evening of bitter cold. With wine and snacks, and friendship and laughter, this was just such good fun. And the children had learned their poetry well, and declaimed it with clarity and enthusiasm. The school was founded just over half a dozen years ago and no wonder it is thriving.