2008 Winners

NAWG’s twelfth annual Festival of Writing was a great success and all who participated enjoyed themselves at Van Mildert College, University of Durham, between 5th September and 7th September.

This is the full list of successful writers in this year’s annual creative writing competition for the members of the National Association of Writers' Groups:

Free Verse Poem

Judge: Alison Chisholm

Winner: Christine Lilian Lowes, Hexham Writers’ Group.

Runners-up: Hilary Adams, Keele Poets; Dorothy Cooke, Moorside Writers’ Group; Ghislaine Goff, Associate.

Highly Commended: Eric Green, Yarm Writers’ Group; Diane Impey, Associate; Stuart Randall, Moorside Writers.

Acrostic Poem

Judge: Doris Corti

Winner: Laurie Clarke, Chobham Writers.

Runners-up: Nicholas John Marshall Brigham, Hexham Writers’ Group; Jo Field, Deal Writers; John Statham, Alsager Writers’ Circle.

Highly Commended: Barbara Olive Smith, Thames Valley Writers’ Circle; Diane Impey, Associate. Commended: Anthony Terence Pook, Hastings Writers’ Group.

A Poem about Writing

Judge: James Nash

Winner: Almira Holmes, Salford Women Writers.

Runners-up: Hilary Adams, Keele Poets; Lesley James, The Inn Scribers; Maggie Spooner, Wilmslow Writers’ Group.

Humorous Dialogue for the stage

Judge: Marvin Close

Winner: Colin Peter Henchley, Runaway Writers.

Runners-up: David Hamilton, Associate; Ray Jones, Castle Writers.

Highly Commended: Christine McEwen, Hexham Writers’ Group; Lilian Mary Parker, The Wrekin Writers.

Open Short Story

Judge: Iain Pattison

Winner: Colin Peter Henchley, Runaway Writers.

Short-listed: Keith Havers, Trowell Writers’ Trust; Stephen Ivett, Thornbury Writers’ Group.

Highly Commended: Adrian Faulkner, Thames Valley Writers’ Group; Patricia Jones, Walton Wordsmiths; Ghislaine Goff, Associate; Richard Rayner, Wilmslow Writers’ Group.

Short Story using a single colour of your choice as a strong influence throughout your story

Judge: Lynne Hackles

Winner: Claire Cowling, Associate

Runners-up: Ghislaine Goff, Associate; Peter John Rolls, Camberley Writers’ Group; Diane Impey, Associate.

Highly Commended: Margaret Cronin, Camberley Writers’ Group; Hilary Middleton, Wilmslow Writers’ Group.

Article – Biography about a person of interest

Judge: Simon Whaley

Winner: Diane Wilson, Free Spirit Writers.

Runners-up: Sheila Crawford, Hexham Writers’ Group; Barbara Olive Smith, Thames Valley Writers’ Circle.

Highly Commended: Margaret Brewster, Blyth Writers; Christine Mundy, Thames Valley Writers’ Circle; Patricia Rose, Hexham Writers’ Group.

A Short Story for Children

Judge: Steve Bowkett

Winner: Aine Maire Chadwick, Willpower Writers’ Group.

Runners-up: Sheila Crawford, Hexham Writers’ Group; Margaret Cronin, Camberley Writers’ Group.

A Letter as a “Voice from the Past”

Judge: Jean Saunders

Winner: Richard Rayner, Wilmslow Writers’ Group.

Runners-up: Barbara Olive Smith, Thames Valley Writers’ Circle; Rose Taylor, Truro Writers’ Group.

Denise Robertson Trophy for the Best Group Anthology

Judges: Vaughan Writers

Winners: Deal Writers.

Runners-up: Cornucopia Writers’ Group; Keele Writers’ Group; Santiago Writers.