Four Harrow schoolchildren were chosen to read poems at the borough’s Remembrance Day service on Sunday.

The children took on more than 100 other pupils from 15 Harrow schools in a competition to find the best Remembrance Day poems.

The competition, which was organised by the Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Nizam Ismail, was launched in September.

It was judged by Michael Rosen, a broadcaster and children’s novelist who was born in Harrow.

The four winning poets read their poems at the end of the two minutes silence during the Remembrance service at the Civic Centre, in Station Road.

The winner of the age five to seven category was Joshua Adebayo of Stag Lane Infant School, Sankskar Muley, from Norbury School, won the seven to 11-year-old category, Amy Wahab, from Nower Hill School, won the 11 to 14 category and Lily Easton, of Hatch End High School, won the 14 to 16-year-old category.

Councillor Nizam Ismail said: “Congratulations to the winners and indeed all the children who entered the competition. 

“We must ensure future generations learn the importance of Remembrance Sunday and I am so pleased with the response from Harrow’s young people, with such touching work of an extremely high standard.”

The children’s poems are shown below.

A Friend Like You

A friend like you is special because you make me smile.
A friend like you is very important because you make me feel special
A friend like you is helpful because you help me when I’m injured.

A friend like you is playful because you play with me a lot.
A friend like you is caring because you look after me when I’m sad.
A friend like you is sharing because you share with me your toys.

A friend like you is funny because you make me laugh.
A friend like you is precious because you’re always there for me.
A friend like you is awesome because you’re cool to me.

A friend like you is super because you’re always here.
A friend like you is always there for me and you’ll always be my friend.

Joshua Adebayo, Stag Lane Infants School
Winner  5-7 Years Category

Till Christ Reappears at Armageddon

Soldiers as I, we pray you’ll remember
When flying your flags on Eleven November
And please buy a poppy in remembrance of me.
And for others who fought so that you can be free.

When I woke and thought, “Was this a dream?”
But then I saw paw prints where the dog had been.
God bless these soldiers of courage and peace
The building whose spirits roams Flanders Fields.

Sanskar Muley, Norbury School
Winner 7-11 Years Category

I am like a soldier,
But still intact,
Blood red,
Remember me.

I only waver in the wispy wind,
Never to be disturbed,
Surviving,
Remember me.

Growing in the winds and storms,
The soldiers stagger by,
Struggling,
Remember me.

The horizon is always lit up,
Fairy lights being blown up,
Unearthly,
Remember me.

I am a poppy,
Giving hope to many,
Think,
Remember me.

Amy Wahab, Nower Hill High School,
Winner 11-14 Years Category

Poppies

It started as a field,
A plain field with grass and crops.
And then it was nothing but a battle field,
Trenches as far as the eye could see.
Machine guns, cannons and sandbags were the only things on the ground.
But when the war was finally over,
One by one poppies started to grow and they filled the field.

Why do people wear a poppy?
We wear a poppy as a symbol of remembrance and respect.
So on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, wear your poppy.
Show your respect.

Lily Easton, Hatch End High School
Winner 14-16 Years Category