The Airedale Writers' Circle
The Airedale
Writers' Circle is a
lively writers' group, set up in 1995. Currently we have 24
members, ages ranging from 18 to 70. We meet on the second
Tuesday of every month at the Social Centre for the Association
for the Blind in Keighley (7.30pm) for a meeting with speakers
and on the last Thursday of the month at 15 Manor Road, Utley, Keighley, for a manuscript evening. We have two members who are
published, both as it happens by Orion: Eric Brown who writes
science fiction and Lesley Horton who writes crime, and there is
one member, Patricia Farley, who has had her poetry published in
various anthologies and has also self published. We run two
competitions each year, one for adults and one for children. We
are particularly proud of our children's competition which has
gone from strength to strength. Last year we had over 400
entries. Once the winners, runners-up, highly commendeds and commendeds have been decided we hold a presentation evening with
a children's author to present the prizes. So far we have had
Berlie Doherty (who brought Robert Swindells with her), Alan
Brown, June Oldham and Jill Bavistock (Enid Blyton's daughter),
and in 2003 Penny Dolan will present them. The children love it,
as do the schools and parents. Indeed the parents of one entrant
have offered to sponsor the author for next year. This is good
because we do not charge the children for entering or
for attending the presentation. Last year we were given a
lottery grant to pay for more well-known authors etc and to run a day's short story workshop.
Officers: Chairperson, Lesley Horton; Secretary, Maureen O'Hara; Treasurer, Richard Hill.
Committee members: Marie Pattison, Barbara Calton
Contact: Maureen O'Hara, 20 Glenhurst Avenue, Park Lane, KEIGHLEY BD21 4RJ. Tel: 01535 607946