Wight Fair Writers’ Circle prizewinners and presenters. Picture by Robin Crossley.
THE talents of budding writers on the Isle of Wight were showcased at the awards ceremony for the fifth annual Wight Fair Writers’ Circle Christmas story competition.
The prizewinning evening was held at Newport Minster on December 19 and was attended by the Island’s High Sheriff, Nick Hayward, and chairman of the Isle of Wight Council, Cllr Susan Scoccia. Also at the event was IW Radio presenter Heather McCallum who helped to hand out the prizes.
Stalls helped raise money for the supported charities this year, which were the Earl Mountbatten Hospice and St Catherine’s School.
Awards were given to the winning writers in three age groups, under-12s, under-18s and adults. The theme was The Night Before Christmas.
Winner of the under-12 category was Tad Avery, nine, from St Mary’s Primary School, Ryde, with his story about skateboarding on Christmas Eve, while the winner of the under-18 prize was Xavier Theobold, 15, from St Catherine’s School, Ventnor, with his tale, The Night Before Christmas — Santa’s Crisis.
The winner of the adult competition was Hannah Saunders, from Shanklin, with her story about a memory of Christmas in India, called Colour and Light.
Island crime authors Bob and Carol Bridgestock signed copies of their latest crime novel, featuring the popular adventures of policeman
DI Dylan. Carol also organised the competition.
She said: "Writing a story is hard enough, receiving an award is exceptional and each and every one of the entrants should be very proud of themselves for their personal achievement.
"The oldest person to enter was over 80 years old and the youngest five.
"I hope we can inspire them all enough to enter our Crime and Intrigue short story/poetry competition, which will be launched in the spring.
"Not only does every competition try to inspire people of the Isle of Wight to read and write but it is also staged to raise money for Island charities."
• Read the winning stories at www.iwcp.co.uk/short-story.aspx
• More pictures of the event and past prize-winning ceremonies are on the website, www.iowwritingcircle.co.uk
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk