A Summer Fields School pupil has been crowned champion at a national poetry speaking competition.
Hector Reeves, 12, bagged the title at the grand finale of Poetry By Heart.
Hector won for his performances of 'Shakespeare at School' by Wendy Cope and 'To a Fish/ A Fish Answers' by Leigh Hunt at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on July 1.
The event was attended by an audience of school-goers and poetry lovers, including Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, former Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, and actor Samuel West.
The judges of the contest said: "Hector delivered captivating performances and deftly communicated his enjoyment of Leigh Hunt's poem, confidently switching from one voice to another."
The Poetry By Heart competition this year drew record entries for a second year with more than 1,600 schools participating and over 48,000 poems being learned by heart.
There were also more than 3,000 video entries for the finals.
Poet and judge Daljit Nagra said: "Each entry is a winner because by learning a poem by heart, each entrant has had an experience that will enrich them for the rest of their lives."
The 2025 Poetry By Heart competition will kick off on this year's National Poetry Day on October 3.
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