We hope to have the new programme ready to hand out to members at the first meeting of the New Year. Details may appear even sooner on this website.
In the meantime, please note the following:
08 January 2013 Open MSS and Book Sale.
22 January 2013 New Beginnings. (600 words max or 40 lines of poetry)
A good time was had by all at the final meeting of the year. Held in a beautifully decorated YMCA Lounge, there was food, drink, fun, frivolity and … more food, drink, fun and frivolity.
The Committee had worked hard on the programme for the evening. A picture quiz about well known (and less well known) television series served as an ice breaker. The Chair’s Challenge, based this year on cryptic clues leading to book titles, was hotly contested and a game of charades led to much hilarity.
‘Literary’ contributions took the form of festive limericks written for the occasion and the President’s Cup, awarded for the greatest number of points accumulated during the year, was presented with due solemnity by Audrey to a rather embarrassed recipient. (See below)
It only remains to wish all our members, former members and anyone else reading this, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
The competition, held in honour of the late Twinks Perugini Kenyon, a much missed former member of RWG, was judged this year by her daughter, Anne Perugini Powell. Due to circumstances beyond her control, Anne was unable to attend the meeting but very kindly sent the results along by post.
In first place, was Kate Swann’s Growing Up, Learning Fast, a touching tale of childhood neglect. In second place came Final text message sent from a mobile phone washed up on the beach of Isola del Giglio by Phil Cook. (The rules of the competition allow for a long title to compensate for the strictly observed word count – precisely 50 – in the actual saga.) Phil’s entry used ‘text speak’, taught to him by young relatives, to great effect. Jan Maltby’s The White Bikini, a fine example of husbandly hypocrisy and wifely revenge, came third.
As Kate was not present this evening to receive the trophy, it will be presented to her in January.
Unfortunately, many of us were unable to be present to celebrate this milestone. However, it was fitting that our founder member, Daphne Peters, was there to cut the cake.
Here’s to the next 30 years!
Cathy, Lindsay and Maggie had a very enjoyable day in Malton.
Among the highlights was Lunch with Three Authors, the authors in question being novelists Fiona Shaw and Andy Seed and children’s picture book writer M Christina Butler. They also had an interesting time browsing round the many stalls and listening to the adjudications of the short story and poetry competitions.
In the evening, joined by Andy from York Writers, Chekhov and the Three Sisters tied for first place in the Literary Pub Quiz chaired by the one and only Arthur Smith.
Adjudicator Louise Cole, Editor at Firedance Books and Director of White Rose Media Ltd., gave us some very valuable insights into the skill of article writing, including crucial differences between objective reporting and opinion pieces. That done, she detailed the strong and weaker points of each entry before delivering her judgement.
In third place was Peter Hicks with his thought provoking piece on stress. Alma Williams came second with an unusual slant on the necessity of making a will; how to ensure the future of her grey African parrot. The winner of the Jack Moss trophy was Maggie Cobbett for her thoughts on boosting a writer’s income with the proceeds from ‘fillers’. Maggie wishes that she hadn’t blinked when the photograph was taken!
The adjudication of the Article Competition has been postponed to Tuesday, 9th October. As a result, the next Open MSS and Book Sale have been brought forward to Tuesday, 25th September.
