Pupils shortlisted for songwriting competition

TWO pupils from Sir Thomas Boteler CE High School are waiting to hear if they have made the top three in a songwriting competition, Lucy Meakin and Lucy Ryan, both aged 16, have been shortlisted in the top 10 for Amnesty International’s Young Human Rights Songwriter of the Year award.

And tomorrow, Friday, they will find out if they have made it into the top three out of 7,000 young people who entered.

The pair were inspired by studying the conflict in Syria.

Lucy Ryan said: “Recently we have been looking at conflict that has been taking place in Syria during our religious studies lessons. The photographs we saw in the newspapers show adults and children with vacant stares – motionless – as they wonder will the conflict ever end. It was looking at these ‘frozen’ expressions which made me write my song Motionless.”

Lucy Meakin added: “I was inspired to write the lyrics of my song after learning about the journeys of children who had to leave their parents during the Second World War.”

If they make the cut they will get to meet the industry judges as the winner is crowned at Amnesty International’s UK headquarters in London on April 30.

Jean Hensey-Reynard, head of religious studies at the Grammar School Road school, said: “I am very proud of both girls getting shortlisted to the final 10.

“This is an honour and we now hope that one or both students get down to the last three and get the chance to meet the judges in London for the final.”