Chairman's Challenge

Last month's chairman's challenge was to write something based on our experiences at Attingham Park. Foolishly I agreed to judge it and God was it difficult. The trouble with Wrekin Writers is that they're all gifted and talented writers who use their abilities to their full potential when writing a challenge. I struggled over this one, there were so many excellent and diverse entries to choose from. But like many a judge before me I had to make a choice. Here are the winning entries.

1st - Nicola Vincent

Attingham Deer Park

 

Grazing at twilight

Antlers in proud silhouette

Against the Wrekin

 

2nd Carole Carr

Nineteenth Century Wealth

When I went down the pit,

 I drew little wagons with the girdle and chain.

Hard work it was,

Blisters as big as shillings and half-crowns,

All full of water they were one day, broken the next,

And the girdle stuck to the wound.

 

Got badly burnt once,

Phew!  Up went the gas,

Scorched my face all over,

So the skin peeled off.

 It were shocking to see.

 

We had a great feast day,

When the owner came from the big house.

No sir, I don’t know his name. 

3rd Beverley Woodhouse

Cedars of Lebanon

 

What have you witnessed, Cedars of Lebanon, having grown so tall while your roots have driven deep into the rich earth during your 200 years at Attingham Park?

 

Your horizontal canopies look divine against the pale stone angular building – the reason you were brought here from the Grand Tour.

 

While you look out over peaceful Shropshire, what of your siblings, some an amazing 3000 years old, in your homeland?  Much revered, the emblem on money, stamps and the national flag, have they wept at the turmoil, destruction and suffering there?

.

Yet still, a symbol of strength, power, and continuity, you have survived, at home and abroad.  Statuesque, silent, strong. 

Chairman's note

Someone else is judging next months 

Attingham Park - Day 2

Wow it rained, the wind blew and then it rained some more. The
great British weather, unpredictable, varied and damn inconsiderate. But, it
didn't deter us. Wrekin Writers and our local Shropshire authors donned rain
coats, fleeces, jumpers and big smiles for our second day at Attingham Park.
Foolhardy maybe, undeterred never.

Looking after the Wrekin Writers' stall today we had Jenny and
her bump, Fiona and Steve. We were joined later by Sue Ross who was in her
element stroking dogs and talking to children, or was it the other way round?
I'm anticipating a load of children's entries for the competition - thanks
Sue.

Despite the weather though, we still laughed, chatted, networked
and had a damn good time. Simon did say though that he should've put a piece of
steak behind his posters to attract all the passing dogs and their owners -
perhaps next year. Oh didn't I tell you guys about that....?

This weekend has been a resounding success. I would like to thank the local authors who came along and joined in the spirit of the event and members of Wrekin Writers who have supported it. However, a great big thank you must go to Dorothy Nicolle and Simon Whaley who have worked so hard to make this event the success it has been. And also to all the local authors who have come along to not only sell their books but to give their time so freely.

Thank you everyone.

Attingham Park Day 1

Wow what an amazing day! The sun shone, the crowds came and all authors sold books. Wrekin Writers also sold three copies of the 2008 anthology (thanks Julie's relatives, much appreciated). We handed out leaflets about the group, that in itself could prove to be interesting and Darren, our fantastic publicity officer, created a crossword about Attingham and sold a lot of copies at 50p each. 

Wrekin Writers display their Chairman's Challenges and advertise their author's books.

 

Part of our marketing/recruitment team or perhaps the best way to describe them would be muggers, no one got past them. This is Julie and Nicola but also helping were Barbara and Darren. Everyone who entered Attingham Park today were given the opportunity to enter our special Chairman's Challenge event, 100 words on your visit to the park. The prizes are National Trust Vouchers. Let's hope we get plenty of entries, if the efforts put in by the group are anything to go by, I shall have loads of entries dropping on my door mat.

Dorothy (and I know she'll kill me) having a well earned cup of tea. She has worked so hard to make sure this event is a success and for that Dorothy many, many thanks.

 

And when it got busy, it was very, very busy.

My heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone. From Wrekin Writers, there's Barbara, Mollie, Fiona and her husband Steve, Darren, Julie, Nicola, Phyllis, and Bev. Wrekin Writers' (book authors) Di, Simon and Carole.Also I'd like to thank the Shropshire authors who met, mingled and laughed with us.

All in all, we had a fantastic day. Looking forward to tomorrow