Hawarden High School Year 8 pupil scoops top prize in Theatr Clwyd Daniel Owen story competition

When Rachel Carr, Year 8 pupil at Hawarden High School, entered her short story into the Theatr Clwyd Daniel Owen Writing Competition, she hoped that the judges would like her short story, ‘The Sea’.

She was delighted to receive the news that her story had been shortlisted as one of the top three pieces in her age category and that her story would be read out by professional actors on the stage at Theatr Clwyd as part of the awards ceremony on the 18th of October.

[miptheme_quote author=”Hawarden High School Head of English, Rob Jones.” style=”boxquote text-left”]We’re extremely proud of Rachel. She is such a modest young lady, but she has a bright future ahead of her. We hope that she will inspire other pupils with her success.[/miptheme_quote]

However, she was absolutely thrilled when her story was awarded the overall first prize for the entire competition. Rachel’s story even beat entries from people in age categories up to the age of 25.

The judges said:

“Vivid description really places you in the eye of the storm.  Then the visual image of the sea, repairing and rescuing the damaged ship would make Roald Dahl proud of its twist.  But finally, it is the haunting and poignant image of the six old men, hand in hand as they return to the sea that bonded their friendship forever.  A touching and moving tale, that lives in the imagination of the reader, long after the story has been read.”

Rachel’s story has been specially printed and bound, and now has pride of place in the school’s library. It is also available on a new website, produced by the school’s English Department, which is reserved for outstanding writing by its pupils (https://onthewallweb.wordpress.com/).