The Recorder is once again joining forces with the Royal British Legion to give local people the chance to

show their talents, pay tribute to those who gave their lives in battle so we can enjoy the freedom we do

now...and win a prize.

Our annual poetry competition has produced some excellent pieces of work and we hope this year’s will

maintain those standards.

To mark Remembrance Sunday,November 13, we want talented writers aged up to 16 to compose a

poem about the fallen of both World Wars and other conflicts. And we

want adults also to show their literary expertise.

The Recorder and the Legion’s East Ham and District branch are running the contest to honour those

who sacrificed their lives.

The inaugural competition in 2003 was a great success, as were the subsequent years. We hope you

will be inspired again this autumn to

write about your feelings. Writers of the two best poems in both age groups will receive Tesco

gift tokens to the value of �50 and �25 supplied by the Recorder. And in a tradition that has now become a special part of the annual Remembrance Day Service at the East Ham Cenotaph in High Street South, East Ham, winners will have the chance to read their poems out in public.

Branch spokesman Mr Ken Hill said: “Our members would love to see and hear what both young people

and adults feel about the fallen. The reading of poems during the wreath laying and other parts of the service is now an emotional part of the event.”

You have until November 1 to submit entries, either by post to Remembrance Sunday

Poetry Competition, The Editor, Colin Grainger, Newham and Stratford Recorders, Media House, 539 High Road, Ilford,Essex 1G1 1UD, or you can e-mail them to colin.grainger@newhamrecorder.co.uk