Winchester teacher wins writing contest (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Winchester teacher wins writing contest

12:21pm Friday 3rd July 2009 in

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AN “ecstatic” Winchester teacher has triumphed in a short-story writing contest.

Paul Davies, an English teacher at Peter Symonds College, scooped first prize in the “Revenge is Sweet”

competition, sponsored by the Hampshire Chronicle.

The 35-year-old, who has won a place at this weekend’s Winchester Writers’ Conference, said his entry, entitled The Pain, was designed to be a story of human kindness and love, as well as revenge.

“I’m ecstatic; it was fantastic to win the competition,” said Mr Davies, of St Thomas Street. “It brings a sense of validation to your work.”

Dr Gary Farnell, who judged the contest, said the Mr Davies’ work was this year’s “outstanding entry” and “rather understated, though always exquisitely phrased”.

Barbara Large, conference director, said: “Paul sustained the plot and kept the interest of the reader to the very last full stop. He writes in a very gentlemanly style which students of creative writing might do well to study.”

This is the 29th year of the Writers’ Conference and this year, former Children’s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo, will be giving the keynote address tomorrow. (Saturday)