George Halkyard, a young train enthusiast from Tufnell Park, has won a poetry competition with his poem about a day trip to Brighton. The poem, titled “Brilliant Brighton,” was written when George was 10 years old. His teacher at Yerbury Primary School encouraged him to enter the Govia Thameslink competition.
George’s poem, which captures the joy of a seaside trip by train, was selected as one of ten winners in a national contest judged by Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho. It is now featured on posters and screens throughout the Govia Thameslink Railway network.
Starting secondary school at Acland Burghley this week, George expressed his excitement: “I was shocked and thrilled when I won. Seeing my poem on a poster was amazing.”
George’s love for trains began with the London Underground and has grown over time. He has visited the London Underground Museum in Covent Garden and the Acton depot. He regularly travels by rail to visit his grandmother in Bedford.
“I travel by train a lot and love going to Brighton,” George said. “Brighton has some of my favorite trains, and the ice cream and fish and chips are really good.”
In addition to seeing his poem displayed publicly, George won tickets to travel anywhere on the network. He recently took his family on a weekend trip to Cambridge.
His mother, Sian, shared her pride: “I am incredibly proud of him. It’s wonderful to see him succeed in a subject he enjoys, and the poem’s visibility has been fantastic. We had fun trying to spot it at different stations.”
Joseph Coelho praised the creativity of the young poets: “I was amazed by the creativity shown in their poems. It’s a joy to see these young writers inspired by their journeys and the sights they see.”
Looking forward, George is excited about starting secondary school. Alongside English, he enjoys maths, computing, and science, though he admits he’s not fond of religious education.
Here is George’s winning poem, “Brilliant Brighton”:
Brilliant Brighton
The shiny Thameslink service, is approaching Platform 1.
Humming with excitement, it’s my ticket to lots of fun.
We’re heading down to Brighton, I’m off to see the sea.
We’re going to have an ice cream, and that fills me with glee!
The two piers tell a story, one burnt down long ago.
The new one is full of exciting things, like a funfair and a show.
We’re going to amble through The Lanes, and look at sparkly things.
Then we’ll stop for fish and chips, as the seagulls spread their wings.
The giant floating doughnut, will give us brilliant views.
We’ll pose in the upside-down house, and we won’t have to queue!
Then I’ll hop back on the Thameslink train, so happy with my day.
I’ll hear the whirring noises as the Class 700 whisks me away.