Youth Festival comes to a close with awards ceremony

Henley Youth Festival 2026 came to a close this weekend with the awards presentation for the Art, Film and Photography winners. The ceremony, held in the town hall, was hosted by Chair Michaela Clarke with the support of guest judges from each of the awarding areas and Mayor, Cllr. Tom Buckley.

Michaela explained how the youth festival had gone through a revitalisation this year, with many more events and opportunities for the children to take part in and enjoy. From a chess tournament, to creative brick building, mixed netball, the run, music makers, performances, a fencing taster session, birds of prey visits in schools and even a farm brought to Badgemore school for the final day – showing just some of what was on offer.

The HYF logo for this year was designed by Sophie Carter, a Gillotts pupil who was chosen as her image incorporated all sorts of animals, and was thought to be a clear and very fitting logo for the Amazing Animals theme. The logo was also animated by a young university animator graduate Lucy Easton so that it could be incorporated into the 2026 film. Put together for the second year running, by Rupert Haynes, who plans to go to Henley College (from Gillotts) next year to study film, Rupert explained that he loved collecting the footage and putting it all together and in fact, had only finished doing so that lunchtime as he was at the farm in the morning. The 2026 film had its premier at the awards event.

Awarding the prizes for the film category was Clare Aldington. The category was won by Bella Minnitt, with Callie Barcella, from Badgemore school in second place.

Awarding the prizes for the photography category was Kathryn Fell. In the age 7-11 category, Thomas Brass from Sacred Heart was awarded the winner, with 2nd place going to Bojta Majoros, from Valley Road and third to Mia Lovegrove, also from Sacred Heart. In the 12-18 age groups, the winner was Alexander Gordon-Smith, from Gillotts, followed by Yasmin Ross, also from Gillotts, with third place going to Sophie Reed from Shiplake College.

Awarding the prizes for the art competition was Susannah Lovegrove. With many categories in the art competition, the winners were as follows:

Age 3-6 – Lyla Boyce, from Nettlebed School

Age 7-9 – Lysander Perowne, Rupert House

Age 10-12 – Isabelle Carruthers, Gillotts School

Age 13-14 – Polina Brown, Shiplake College

Age 15-18 – William Smith, Shiplake College

3D art – Roxxy Savage, Badgemore

Group entry – Juno Grainger and Olivia Greaves, Rupert House

The artwork and photography will now be on display for the next 6 weeks in Henley Library for members of the public to enjoy. Michaela offered her thanks to the judges, who all had a very difficult job deciding the winners in their categories. She finished by thanking longstanding volunteer, Charlene Brown, for her many years of dedicated service to HYF. Charlene received a bouquet of flowers and a framed piece of artwork designed by one of the winners of the art competition. She also thanked all the parents, carers and grandparents who had supported the children in facilitating their entries and enjoying the many, many events on offer.