2019 - Archive

"Waves"

1st Place: Andrea Neidle (Centre)

Joint 2nd Place: David Elliott (Left) and Rob Summers (Right)

"Epiphany"

1st Place: Mike Lansdown (Centre)

2nd Place: Geoff Brown (Left)

3rd Place: Rob Summers (Right)

"Pathway"

1st Place: Mike Lansdown (Centre)

2nd Place: Helen Nicell (Right)

3rd Place: Geraldine Cox (Left)

"Home"

1st Place: Geoff Brown

2nd Place: Andrea Neidle

3rd Place: Lesley Kerr (Left) with David Gould

"Survival"

1st Place: Geoff Brown (Centre)

2nd Place: Rob Summers (Right)

3rd Place: Brian Bold (Left)

"Curtains"

1st Place: Geoff Brown (Centre Left)

2nd Place: David Elliott (Left)

Joint 3rd Place: Katrina Darking (Centre Right) and Geoff Brown (Right)

"Red"

1st Place: Chris McDermott (Centre)

2nd Place: Mike Lansdown (Left)

3rd Place: Rob Summers (Right)

"April 1st"

1st Place: Chris McDermott (Centre)

2nd Place: Mike Lansdown (Right)

3rd Place: Geraldine Cox (Left)

"Cycle"

1st Place: Chris McDermott (Centre)

2nd Place: Trevor Spinage (Right)

3rd Place: Brian Bold (Left)

"4 Minute Warning"

1st Place: David Elliott (Centre)

2nd Place: Steve Clifford (Right)

3rd Place: John Ward (Left)

"Horror"

1st Place: Helen Nicell (Centre)

2nd Place: Shakeel Esoof (Right)

3rd Place: Mike Lansdown (Left)

"The Party"

1st Place Helen Nicell (Left)

2nd Place: Paul Stevenson (Right)

"The Party"

Joint Third Place:

Andrea Neidle (Centre)

Brian Bold (Right)

Mike Lansdown (Left)

"The Secret"

1st Place: Sue Pettit (Centre)

2nd Place: Mike Lansdown (Left)

3rd Place: Rob Summers (Right)

"Retribution"

1st Place: Rob Summers (Right)

2nd Place: Geraldine Cox (Centre)

3rd Place: David Elliott (Left)

"Temptation"

1st Place: Katrina Darking (Centre)

2nd Place: Mike Lansdown (Right)

3rd Place: David Elliott (Left)

"Flowers"

1st Place: Rob Summers (Centre)

2nd Place: Helen Nicell (Right)

3rd Place: Debbie Clare (Left)

"Travel"

1st Place: Mike Lansdown (Centre)

2nd Place: Cynthia Marsh (Left)

3rd Place: Rob Summers (Centre)

"Beatles Titles"

1st Place: Helen Nicell (Lovely Rita) (Not Present)

2nd Place: Rob Summers (Eleanor Rigby) (Right)

3rd Place: Jo Hopkinson (She's Leaving Home) (Left)

"Freedom"

1st Place: Mike Lansdown (Centre)

2nd Place: Rob Summers (Right)

3rd Place: Michael Apple (Left)

"Fear"

1st Place: Trevor Spinage (Centre)

2nd Place: Rob Summers (Right)

3rd Place: David Elliott (Left)

 "Halloween"

1st Place: Jan Rees (Right)

"Halloween"

2nd Place: Steve Clifford

"Halloween"

3rd Place: Susan Kassabian

"Pictures"

1st Place: Mike Lansdown (Centre)

2nd Place: Brian Bold (Left)

3rd Place: Rob Summers (Right)

"Deaf"

1st Place: Brian Bold (Left)

2nd Place: Rob Summers (Centre)

3rd Place: Trevor Spinage (Right)

"Discovery"

1st Place: Steve Clifford (Inset)

2nd Place: Brian Bold (Centre Left) 

Joint 3rd Place: Andrea Neidle(Centre Right)

and Rob Summers (Right)

"Window"

1st Place: Mike Lansdown (Left)

2nd Place: Helen Nicell(Centre) 

3rd Place: Mike Lansdown (Right)

"Envy"

1st Place: Cynthia Marsh (Centre)

2nd Place: Mike Lansdown (Right)

3rd Place: Gerry Langton

"Liar"

1st Place: Brian Bold (Centre Left)

2nd Place: Cynthia Marsh (Centre Right)

Joint 3rd Place: Steve Clifford (Left)

and Trevor Spinage (Right)

"Success"

1st Place: Steve Clifford (Centre)

2nd Place: Mike Lansdown (Left)

3rd Place: Rob Summers (Right) 

"Play Competition"

1st Place: David Elliott (Centre)

2nd Place: Cynthia Marsh (Left)

3rd Place: Caroline Lynch (Right)

"Scotland"

1st Place: David Elliott (Left)

2nd Place: Cynthia Marsh (Centre)

3rd Place: Mike Lansdown (Right)

"Halloween"

1st Place: Trevor Spinage (Centre)

2nd Place: Steve Clifford (Left)

3rd Place: Helen Nicell (Right)

"Non Fiction Competition"

1st Place: Trevor Spinage (Centre)

2nd Place: David Elliott (Right)

3rd Place: Cynthia Marsh (Left)

"Space"

1st Place: Jo Hopkinson (Centre Left)

2nd Place: Helen Nicell (Centre Right)

3rd Place: Chris Cottee (Right)

John Ward (Left)

"Weeds"

1st & 2nd Place: Helen Nicell (Centre Left)

3rd Place: Rachel Muirhead (Centre Right) and David Elliott (Right). John Ward (Left)

"Three in One"

1st Place: Helen Nicell (Centre)

2nd Place: Chris Cottee (Right)

3rd Place: John Ward (Left)

 "Missing"

1st Place: Cynthia Marsh (Right)

2nd Place: Louise Broadbent (Left)

3rd Place: Chris Cottee (not pictured)

 "Life Line"

1st Place: Rob Summers (Left)

2nd Place: David Brunt (Right)

3rd Place: David Elliott (Centre)

 "After an interval"

1st Place: Helen Nicell (Centre)

2nd Place: Cynthia Marsh (Left)

3rd Place: Rosemary Morris (Right)

 "Valentine's Day"

1st Place: Rob Summers (Centre Left)

2nd Place: Rosemary Morris (Right)

3rd Place: Dave Gould (Left) and Steve Clifford (Centre Right)

 "Afterwards"

1st Place: Chris Cottee (Left)

2nd Place: Rob Summers (Centre)

3rd Place: Brian Bold (Right)

"Revenge"

1st Place: Cynthia Marsh (Left)

2nd Place: Steve Clifford (Centre Right)

3rd Place: Rachel Muirhead (Right)

with John Ward (Centre Left)

"Sacrifice"

1st Place: Trevor Spinage (Left)

2nd Place: Brian Bold (Centre)

3rd Place: Helen Nicell (Right)

"The Wrong Room"

1st Place: Roger Parish (Centre Right)

2nd Place: Rob Summers (Right)

3rd Place: Trevor Spinage (Left)

with Sue Pettit (Centre Left)

"The Secret"

1st Place: Rachel Muirhead (Centre)

2nd Place: Brian Bold (Left)

3rd Place: Yvonne Zost (not present)

with Helen Nicell (Right)

"Barefoot"

1st Place: Steve Clifford (Centre)

2nd Place: Phil Cooper (Left)

3rd Place: Trevor Spinage (Right)

"Celebrity"

1st Place: Cynthia Marsh (Centre Right)

2nd Place: David Elliott (Right)

3rd Place: Steve Clifford (Left)

with Susan Bennett

"The Invitation"

1st Place: Rob Summers (Centre Right)

2nd Place: Helen Nicell (Centre Left)

3rd Place: Chris Cottee (Left)

with Sue Pettit (Right)

"Made of Metal"

1st Place: Chris Cottee (not pictured)

2nd Place: Steve Clifford (Centre)

3rd Place: Rob Summers (Right)

with John Ward (Left)

"Beyond the Gate"

1st Place: Rob Summers (Right)

2nd Place: Kimberley Wilcox (Left)

3rd Place: Cynthia March (not pictured)

"Writer's Block Competition"

1st Place: Rob Summers (Right)

receiving the new Writer's Block Trophy from our judge: Sarah Kerenza Priestley, Curator of Watford Museum 

"Writer's Block Competition"

2nd & 3rd Place: Trevor Spinage

receiving the his prize from our judge: 

Sarah Kerenza Priestley, 

Curator of Watford Museum 

"Ten"

 1st Place: Trevor Spinage (Second Left)

2nd Place: Rob Summers (Centre Right)

3rd Place: Steve Clifford (Right)

4th Place: Helen Nicell (Centre Left)

with John Ward

"Love"

1st Place: Sue Pettit

2nd Place: Helen Nicell and 

Lukasz  Kwiatkowski

4th Place: Cynthia Marsh and 

Robert Patterson

"The Package"

1st Place: Rob Summers

2nd Place: Dominic Kenna

3rd Prize: Steven Prizeman

"Sharks"

1st Place: Robert Paterson (Centre)

2nd Place: Jennie Willett (Right)

3rd Place: Helen Nicell (Left)

"Fire"

1st Place: David Elliott (Right)

2nd Place: Cynthia Marsh (Left)

Joint 3rd Place: Laura Rouse (Centre Left)

and Helen Nicell (Centre Right)

"Drowning"

1st Place: Trevor Spinage (Centre Left)

2nd Place: Chris Cottee (represented by Louise, Centre Right)

3rd Place: Dan Cooper (Right).

with John Ward (Left)

 "October"

1st Place: Rob Summers (Centre Left)

2nd Place: Sam Gardham (Centre Right)

3rd Place: Kimberley Simcox (Right)

with John Ward (Left)

"Broken"

1st Place: Rob Summers (Centre Left)

2nd Place: Steven Prizeman (Left)

3rd Place: Trevor Spinage (Right)

4th Place: Dan Cooper (Centre Right)

Monologue Competition

1st Place: Rosie Bristow

"It feels like Thursday"

Monologue Competition

2nd Place: Ian Wilson (Left)

"Listen"

Joint Third Place: 

Trevor Spinage - "Medium Sweet"
Helen Nicell - "Money can buy 'Appiness!"

 "Time"

1st Place: Helen Nicell (Centre Right)

2nd Place: Steven Prizeman (Right)

3rd Place: Trevor Spinage (Left)

with John Ward (Centre Left)

 "Shadows"

1st Place: Steven Prizeman

2nd Place: Steve Clifford

3rd Place: Dan Cooper

4th Place: Rod Summers

"Another World"

1st Place: Steve Clifford

2nd Place: Helen Nicell

3rd Place: Trevor Spinage

"Journey"

1st Place: Rob Summers

2nd Place: Steve Clifford

3rd Place: Steve Clifford

 "Time Flies"

1st Place: Rob Summers (Centre)

2nd Place: Steve Clifford (Right)

3rd Place: Trevor Spinage (Left)

 The winning stories were chosen by a panel of four judges; Richard Harrington MP, Cllr Keith Crout, Peter Wilson-Leary, Watford Observer editor and Grelle White, WAAF magazine editor. Stories ranged from a childhood view of war, parents' worries, obsessive compulsive disorder, the Peace Memorial statue and many more.

The winning entry 'The New Captain' by Helen Nicell, was a humorous piece, brought to life by David Rose's reading and perfect comedy timing. Grelle White presented Helen with the trophy and a £50 cash prize, kindly donated by Richard Harrington, who was unfortunately unable to attend.

 Tying for second place were :

David Elliott with 'Point of View' (Left) with Grelle White (Right); and Brian Bold's  'Many Happy Returns of the Day'.

 Tying for second place were :

David Elliott with 'Point of View' ; and Brian Bold (Right) 'Many Happy Returns of the Day' with Grelle White (Left).

 Fourth place was :

Kimberley Simcox (left) was placed fourth with 'Sunrise'. Grelle White (Right) presenting Kimberley with her prize

 The remaining six stories short-listed were:

Trevor Spinage - 'To Sleep Perchance To Dream'

Sue Pettit - 'Waiting'

Jackie Green - 'Brothers in Arms'

John Ramsey - 'The Importance of Exactitude'

Dominic Kenna - 'All in a Deus Work'

Steven Prizeman - 'Garden'

"Mind Reading"

Joint 1st Place: Kimberley Simcox (Centre)

and John Ward (Left)

3rd Place: Helen Nicell (Right)

"My Dreams"

1st Place: Jessica Moss (Centre Left)

2nd Place: Helen Nicell (Right)

3rd Place: Jo Wilkinson (Left)

with John Ward (Centre Right)

"Story in Verse"

1st Place: Kimberley Simcox (Centre)

 2nd Place: Chris Glover (Left)

 3rd Place: Robert Paterson (Right)

"Sci-Fi Stories"

 1st Place: David Silver
2nd Place: Trevor Spinage
3rd Place: Jo Wilkinson
4th Place: Dan Cooper

"No Theme"

 1st Place: Chris Glover (Right)
2nd Place: Jennie Willett (Left)
3rd Place: Chris Glover

4th Place: Rob Summers/Chris Glover 

(Joint Entry)

 "The Wheel"

1st Place: Trevor Spinage (Left)
2nd Place: Kimberley Simcox (Centre Left)

3rd Place: Rob Summers (Centre Right)

4th Place: Helen Nicell (Right)

"Pleasure"

 1st Place: Chris Glover
2nd Place: Rob Summers
3rd Place: Kimberley Angel 

4th Place: Rob Summers

"Chorleywood LitFest Writing Competition"

Winner:

Jackie Green (Left)

 Jackie is the first local winner of this competition which attracts entries from across the UK and beyond.  

Jackie (Left) received her prize from Journalist Melissa Benn (Right).

Winner:

Sue Pettit

Sue won a place at the 

Swanwick Summer Writing School,

Alfreton, Derbyshire.

The Richard Harrington Challenge Cup

"One Day I will start writing" 

at Watford Live

 Richard Harrington, MP. (Left)

1st Place: Until Next Year - Rob Summers (Right)
2nd Place: Walking Together - Janice Day (Centre)
3rd Place: Our Little Secret - John Ramsey

Other Shortlisted Stories in 

no Particular Order:

The Heart of the Matter - Jackie Green
Beam Me Up Granny - Trevor Spinage
Circle - Gary Cole
Autumn Watch - Hayden Illingworth
Full Circle - Colin Jackson
Chariots of Fire - John Ward

The winning and shortlisted stories can be read on the Watford Observer Website:

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/leisure/one_day/

 Details of the Award Event at the Watford Museum on 20th June are on the Watford Area Arts Forum: http://www.watfordareaartsforum.com/2013/06/24/festive-finale-for-harrington-challenge-cup-competitions/#more-952 

The stories appeared on posters in Watford Bus Shelters during July 2013.

"Fireworks" Story Competition

  1st Place: Andrew Lang (Right) receives his award from Morag Watkins (Left), proprietor of the Chorleywood Bookshop. 

Morag kindly agreed to judge this year's entries. Morag is also the organiser of the highly successful Chorleywood Lit Festival. http://chorleywoodbookshop.co.uk/ 

Andrew's story:

"Li Tian"
Morag said, 'An intriguing story, encapsulating the stillness and peace of a Chinese monastery, almost feeling like a fairy story. The language and ease of reading made this my favourite.' 

"Fireworks" Story Competition

  2nd Place: Peter Young

"Gods at War"
Morag said, 'This story contained a lot of character and I loved the science element contained within the tale, plus the use of all the elements.'

"Fireworks" Story Competition

  3rd Place: Trevor Spinage

"Time will Tell"
Morag said, 'Very believable central character, a strong mother with a weak father, very clever double twist at the end of this seance related story.'

"Flash"

 1st Place: Helen Nicell (Centre Left)
2nd Place: Jo Wilkinson (Left)
3rd Place: John Ward (Centre Right)

4th Place: Chris Glover (Right)

"Pioneer"

1st Place: Helen Nicell
2nd Place: Rob Summers
Joint 3rd Place: Kimberley Angel 

and Angela Hunter

"The Question"

1st Place: Brian Bold
2nd Place: Jackie Green
3rd Place: Patricia Kavanagh-Brown 

and Trevor Spinage

"Hanging"

 1st Place: Helen Nicell
2nd Place: Angela Hunter
3rd Place: Trevor Spinage

"Diamond"

1st Place: Trevor Spinage (Left)

2nd Place: Brian Bold (Right)

3rd Place: Phil Cooper (Centre)

"Diamond"

 1st Place: Helen Nicell (Left)

2nd Place: Sue Pettit (Right)

3rd Place: John Ward (Centre)

"Scout"

 1st Place: Helen Nicell
2nd Place: Brian Bold
3rd Place: Chris Glover

"Eggs"

1st Place: Helen Nicell (Centre Left)
2nd Place: Rob Summers (Centre Right)
3rd Place: Chris Glover (Right)

"Accession"

 1st Place: Trevor Spinage (Left)

2nd Place: Trevor Spinage

3rd Place: Brian Bold (Right)

4th Place: Angela Hunter (Centre)

"Games"

1st Place: Helen Nicell (Centre)

2nd Place: Rob Summers (Right)

3rd Place: Rob Summers

4th Place: Trevor Spinage (Left)

Commenting on the eleven entries, Judges Sue Hampton and Leslie Tate said:

All entries were interesting, inventive and ambitious, using varied strategies such as letters and reports to tell the story. They were distinctive and memorable, with several original approaches to the title. After much consideration and debate they chose the following four winners:

1st Place: Brian Bold (Left) receiving his award from Sue Hampton (Right) for his story: "Tight Trousers"

A sharp and funny moral tale poking fun at obesity, competitive corporate thinking and addiction to gadgetry

Pictured:

 Left to Right: 

Chris Glover, Trevor Spinage, Leslie Tate, Brian Bold, Rob Summers, Sue Hampton 

2nd Place

Rob Summers

"Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato"

A well-worded, ambitious piece of writing which showed real skill in describing people and places, with a clever end-twist to the story.

3rd Place

Trevor Spinage

"Of Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax"

Strong on feeling-tone, this piece went deep into the experience of Alzheimer's seen from within - a sensitive piece of writing.

4th Place

Chris Glover

"In the Depth of All Symphonies"

An intensely poetic, atmospheric piece with some highly original phrases and expressions and a consistent tone sustained throughout.

Our Judges

 Leslie Tate (Left); Sue Hampton (Right).

  Sue Hampton and Leslie Tate are very successful published authors of novels, young adult books and poetry. You can find out more about their individual works from their websites:

  https://www.suehamptonauthor.co.uk/ 

 https://leslietate.com/ 

 Watford Writers announce the winners of their first open short story competition run in conjunction with Watford Area Arts Forum. 

Grelle White editor of WAAF and local novelist Leigh Russell had the difficult task of judging all the entries and WAAF chairman Jaffer Bhimji presented prizes.

1st Place: 

Rob Summer Bleu D'or winning him a year's subscription to Watford Writers and publication in the next issue of WAAF, 

illustrated by local artist Marianne Keibel.

 Watford Writers announce the winners of their first open short story competition run in conjunction with Watford Area Arts Forum. 

Grelle White editor of WAAF and local novelist Leigh Russell had the difficult task of judging all the entries and WAAF chairman Jaffer Bhimji presented prizes.

2nd Place

 Sue Bennett, winning her a 6 months subscription to WAAF.

 Watford Writers announce the winners of their first open short story competition run in conjunction with Watford Area Arts Forum. 

Grelle White editor of WAAF and local novelist Leigh Russell had the difficult task of judging all the entries and WAAF chairman Jaffer Bhimji presented prizes.

Joint 3rd Place:

  Angela Hunter and Helen Nicell 

 Harrow/Watford Writers Short Story Final
Thursday 13th October 2012 

held at 

Harrow Arts Centre:

 A  Harrow Writers story took first place, with a story from Watford Writers second.

All the other stories tied for third place!

The cakes also won a prize! Thanks to Harrow Writers for their hospitality

 1st Place: "Age Chasm" by Barbara Arden-White (Harrow Writers)

 2nd Place: "Sweet Little Lies" by Rae Argent (Watford Writers)

Other finalists in no particular order:

"Hotel California" by John Ward (W)

"The Life of Brian" by Brian Bold (H)

"The Betrayal" by Jennie Willett (H)

"Danny Boy" by Sue Petitt (W)

"Riot" by Trevor Spinage (W)

"Abracadabra" by Julia Underwood (H)

"Memorable Person"

 1st Place: Trevor Spinage (Left)
2nd Place: Rob Summers (Centre Right)
3rd Place: Brian Bold (Right)

Alan Jamieson (Judge) (Centre Left)

"Banality"

  1st Place: Rob Summers (Left)
2nd Place: Rae Argent (Centre)
3rd Place: Brian Bold (Right)

"Newborn"

  1st Place: Steph (Visitor)

2nd Place: Chris Glover

3rd Place: Rob Summers

"Love Story"

  1st Place: Liz Simpson
2nd Place: Helen Nicell & Rob Summers (Joint authors)

3rd Place: Brian Bold

"Lost"

   1st Place: Rob Summers
2nd Place: Trevor Spinage
3rd Place: Helen Nicell

"Dirt"

    1st Place: Rosie Moorhead

 2nd Place: Steph King

 3rd Place: Darren Andrews