On 1st July 2023, a new musical composition was premiered at the Great Hall of the Peoples Palace at Queen Mary University in Mile End, to commemorate the 135th anniversary of the Matchgirls Strike of 1888. The Matchgirls Memorial ran a schools poetry competition to celebrate the event. Blue Gate Fields Primary, Canary Wharf College, Osmani Primary School, St Agnes Catholic Primary School and William Patten Primary School took part. Judges were Tanya Landman, Author, Dr Anna Robinson, Senior Lecturer UEL & Poet, Chris Searle, Retired Teacher, Author and Poet.​

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Winning entries can be found here:

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FIRST PRIZE WINNING ENTRIES

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Year 4: The Matchstick Girls by Zakira

Year 5: A Change in Fate by Aris and Zia

Year 6: An Ode to the Empty Benches by Aras, Edith, Daniel and Marnie

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SECOND PRIZE WINNING ENTRIES

Year 4: Matchgirls by Mariam

Year 5: What Happens in The Matchgirls’ Factory by Maryam

Year 6: Life of a match factory girl by India

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THIRD PRIZE WINNING ENTRIES

Year 4: Striking a Match by Sota, Barin, Yusuf and Sadie

Year 4: The Match Girls by Morgan, Enrico, Destiny and Sunny

Year 5: Fight for Freedom by Elouise, Lydia, Gabby, Farzona

Year 6: The story of the Matchgirls by Zoe

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COMMENDED ENTRIES

Year 5: Fairness & Equality for The Matchgirls by Zaynah