The Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School Quarter Campus buzzed with anticipation as parents, teachers and students filled the cafeteria for the 5th Annual Teacher George Wenham Choral Speaking Competition on Thursday, 27 November 2023. After several years on hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event returned in full force, echoing with the confident and melodious voices of Anguilla’s young speakers. Hosted by the Department of Education, the evening marked a revival of a tradition rooted deeply in community, memory and the power of the spoken word.
The competition itself is a living legacy of the late Teacher George Wenham, once a revered principal of the former Valley Boys’ School. His former students, among them Mr. Richard Fahie, founded the George Wenham Memorial Club in 1970 in honour of their mentor’s influence. For decades, the club championed academic enrichment for Anguilla’s youth under its motto: “To serve to uplift”. It sponsored spelling bees, debates, scholarships and other initiatives that mirrored Wenham’s belief in discipline, excellence and a love for language.
By 2013, as the surviving members grew older, they entrusted the club’s remaining funds and documents to the Department of Education with a specific request: that Wenham’s legacy continue through a dedicated event. Two years later, in 2015, the George Wenham Choral Speaking Competition was born.
The late Tr. Joanne Snagg was also honoured at the event. Tr. Snagg was a literacy coordinator and enthusiast, and lead trainer for Adrian T. Hazell Primary School (ATHPS) choral speaking team. The team had previously won the choral speaking competition from 2015 to 2018. The legacy of both Ms. Snagg and Mr. Wenham will go on to resonate through new generations of Anguillian students.
That resonance was unmistakable as all six public primary schools — Orealia Kelly Primary, Adrian T. Hazell Primary, Valley Primary, Morris Vanterpool Primary, Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary and Vivien Vanterpool Primary — took to the stage. The students’ excitement was palpable, their voices blending, rising and falling in synchrony as they competed in the art of choral speaking, a group interpretation of poetry or prose involving anywhere from six to one hundred performers.
In his remarks, Chief Education Officer Mr. Bren Romney captured the spirit of the evening: “We’re not just restoring an event; we are reclaiming a tradition that celebrates the power of words, the beauty of voices and the confidence that grows when children stand together and speak as one.” He added that the competition could bear no more fitting a name, as it embodied the very values Wenham championed — teamwork, excellence, discipline and an enduring affection for the written word.
Each team, comprising 12 to 25 students and led by a teacher-conductor, presented Roald Dahl’s playful adaptation of The Three Little Pigs. Their performances were vivid and imaginative, weaving Dahl’s humour through clear articulation, lively rhythm and expressive voice work. Some schools incorporated well-timed stomps, chants and props, bringing Red Riding Hood, the three pigs and the infamous wolf to life. Conductors, too, embraced the storytelling flair—some even donning red capes in a nod to the beloved tale.
Five judges — Mr. Kenneth Hodge, Ms. Dayna Connor, Mrs. T’arah Edwards, Mrs. Rita Celestine-Carty and Mrs. Rosena Brooks — evaluated the teams on articulation, rhythm, voice variation and sound effects, while separate scores assessed conductor leadership and demeanour. The panel noted the high standard of preparation and the evident commitment of both students and teachers. “All presentations were strong,” they stated, commending the students for conducting themselves with confidence and maturity.
The evening also featured performances from Teacher Renée Carter, along with independently chosen pieces from each school that reflected themes of reading, culture preservation, self-belief and positive mentorship.
When the results were finally announced, cheers rippled across the room. Orealia Kelly Primary captured the award for Overall Best Conductor, while Vivien Vanterpool Primary secured third place with 227 points. Adrian T. Hazell Primary earned second place with 241 points, and Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary took the top spot with an impressive 246 points.
The return of the George Wenham Choral Speaking Competition was not merely the revival of an event, but a reaffirmation of a legacy. Through their voices, Anguilla’s children once again carried forward Wenham’s enduring belief in the transformative power of language.
By Janissa Fleming