An 11-year-old schoolboy is proving he has the talent to go far after penning a poem which will be read out to hundreds of people at the County Festival of Remembrance later this year.
Joshua Carpenter, who is a pupil at Newdale Primary School, wrote Never Forget for a poetry competition run by the Royal British Legion.
Pupils had to write a poem on the theme of poppies or remembrance, with the best entries being read out at an award ceremony on Veterans Day, June 27, at Dawley & District Royal British Legion.
Amanda Carpenter, Joshua’s mum, said: “He won £25 which was presented by the Mayor of Telford & Wrekin, and after he read his poem out the mayor’s wife came up to him and told him he must keep writing because he was so talented.
“He’s really interested in the war and my husband Iain is as well. It’s an interest they share. They sit down and watch old war films together.
“Joshua just absorbs all this information like a sponge. If I ever want to know anything about the war I just ask him and he always knows the answer.”
And Joshua, who lives in The Rock, has shown a natural talent for poetry.
Amanda said: “He’s been reading since he was three and he wrote the poem in about an hour. He just went upstairs and when he came down he’d written the poem.
“His teachers have been encouraging him to write more poems now and enter other competitions.
“Iain and I are bursting with pride.”
Joshua’s poem has now been sent off to the RBL county headquarters for the next round of judging, and will be read out at the County Festival of Remembrance in Shrewsbury on October 23.
By Pam Griffin