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