A student from City of London Freemen’s School in Ashtead has won the top prize in an essay writing competition to celebrate the 600 year anniversary of Agincourt.  Year 10 pupil Charlotte Blythe won with her essay entitled: “Why has the Battle of Agincourt resonated through English and British history for the last 600 years and why does it have relevance today?”

“I was shocked, surprised and flattered to win, “explained the winner Charlotte Blythe, “especially as I had never learnt anything on this subject before.”

The competition was hosted by The Worshipful Company of Fletchers as part of a year- long programme to commemorate the anniversary. Students from six schools across London competed in the essay completion, judged by a panel of judges, chaired by Professor Anne Curry, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Professor of Medieval History at the University of Southampton.

The judges were impressed by Charlotte’s essay, because she “set out the major issues very clearly in the opening paragraph and [was] also able, by skilful and high quality writing, to cover a wide range of topics within the word limit.” The judges explained that they “particularly liked [Charlotte’s] setting the discussion of Agincourt against broader considerations of the meaning of warfare.”

To celebrate the win, Charlotte was invited to attend a dinner at Cutlers’ Hall with Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent. Charlotte was presented with an arrow and also won £100 donation to the Woodlands School, Freemen’s charity of choice.