2026 Year 5 First Prize
The strike that changed the WORLD by Nina
I am useless
I'm underpowered
I can't do anything to stop this
Hope this ends soon.
All my friends are in pain
Just following orders
I am a drop lost from the ocean
But I am one of those many drops which make up the sea
We marched down Bow street
Our voices were asleep once
Now are powerful as greek gods
You may be a drop one day and then again the next day but if you put your mind on something and stay strong you can accomplish anything
July 2026 saw the 138th anniversary of the Matchgirls Strike. On 10th July, to mark the occasion, The Matchgirls Memorial were hosted at the Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives to present prizes of the annual Schools Matchgirls Poetry Competition.
Prizes were presented to the winners of this years school poetry competition from both Blue Gate Fields Junior School and William Patten Primary School. Our judges this year were Dr Anna Robinson and Fawzia Kane.
Nina won First Prize in the Year 5 category with the poem, 'The strike that changed the WORLD'.