PHEW, WHAT A SCORCHER!

Hot sweltering days while an airborne virus swills its way through the populace... R Fed wins Wimbledon (or should I say the

Brit guy lost -

again)... a famous pop star gains immortality and the Tube's closed again... and oh, yeah, if you didn't know, there's a recession on. But despite all that, it's all good in the hood. Why?

Because the Judges for The Changing Face 2009 Newham Writing Competition have drawn up their final shortlists for the poetry, short story and short play competitions. A grand awards ceremony will take place on Saturday 12th September at Stratford Library where prizes will be awarded to the winners and commended writers in all 6 categories.

Before displaying the lists, may I remind you that the 'Breaking Into Freelance Journalism' course currently underway at East Ham Library ends o

n 18th July. This 3 week course facilitated by Journalist Jo Mears gives 15 local participants tips and advice from her vast experience working with some of Britain's leading broadsheet newspapers and magazines.

I should also tell you about the Forest Gate Street Festival which is in its 10th year and takes place on Saturday 18th July in Osborne Road, E7. As Newham Writer in Residence, I'll be there manning a stall alongside The Gate Library. Look out for a wonderful tapestry designed and made by members of Age Concern Newham, one of our partners in another project working with older residents called A Picture Paints a Thousand Words. Why not pop along to this vibrant festival which has an average attendance of around 3,000 visitors with music, performan

ces, food stal

ls and other interesting exhibitions.

Another interesting opportunity is a writers' advice session with freelance editor Patsy Isles onJuly 23rd at Stratford Library. Any local writer who would like advice on their work or their career can book an appointment to meet with Patsy. There will be further Writers' Advice sessions on 27th August and 24th September. To book any of these sessions emailannette@spreadtheword.org.uk or call 020 7735 3111.

July's Ride The Word poetry and short story reading evening takes place on Wednesday 29th July at Cafe Yumchaa Tea Shop, 45 Berwick Street, Soho, W1. The night boasts an exciting

lineup of writers including Luke Kennard, Cherry Smyth, Jay Merrill, Vincent de Souza and yours truly. There are additional readings from Tom Chivers, Dzifa Benson andDavi

d Caddy, editor of guest

magazine Tears in the Fence as well as an open mic floor spot for budding poets.

Now it's Crunch Time! Below is the shortlist for the 2009 Newham Writing Competition. We had a tremendous response to the competition and the judges, Maureen Duffy judging short stories, Charlie Dark judging poetry and Georgia Fitch judging short plays had the unenviable task of selecting work from all the entries.

I'd like to offer congratulations and a jolly well done to all the writers but * please note that the lists below are in alphabetical order only. Actual winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on 12th September 2009 at Stratford Library.

Those listed will be invited to attend the Awards Ceremony where they get the opportunity to read their work, win a prize and possibly qualify for publishing in an anthology.

Good luck!

2009 NEWHAM WRITING COMPETITION POETRY SHORTLIST

GENERAL CATEGORY

Elaine Baker - I have seen

Jacqui Durand - That Battle

Julian Hilaire - Newham is Proud

Koel Mukherjee - Newham’s Face

UNDER 21

Shuhena Bhanu - The Ghostly Face of Newham

Sophia Mahmood - The Changing Face

Natasha Mwansa - The Changing Face

POETRY OVER 60'S

Gordon Kirkley - The Changing Face

Sheila Madge Lee - A Morning In The Park

Janet O’Brien – Hurdler’s Dream

Lilian Rabey - I Was Old Before I Was Young

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Piotr Ambozik - I Do Not Know But I Do Know

Joshua Brian - I Do Not Know But I Do Know

Jamie Brooks - I Do Not Know But I Do Know

Simran Dovedi - Changing Face

Joe Young - If I Was A Cabbage

SECONDARY SCHOOL

Ann Adesolabomi - Love at First Bite

Oluwatunmise Daniels - The Giraffe

Rida Hasan - Changing Face

Fahima Khanum - The New Building

Akil Job Omari - Looking Forward

Klaudija Viscockyte - The Changing Face


ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

Annette du Plessis - Hopeless Homeless

Barry Freedom Taylor - The Changing Face

Klaudia Visockyte - The Changing Face

2009 NEWHAM WRITING COMPETITION SHORT STORY SHORTLIST

GENERAL CATEGORY

Jacqueline Applebee - Mother, Maiden, Crone

Annette du Plessis - Forgotten

Colette Fleming - Nellie

Sylvester Onwordi - Galleon’s Reach

Joy Stone - Changing Places

UNDER 21

Zele Huma Butt - Aurora Borealis-The Lady Aiken

Remya Unnithan - Tom Cruise’s Diary

OVER 60'S

Cynthia Adejayan - The Changing Face

Christine Edwards - Rose’s First Telegram

Trevor Hadley - The Wallet

Alan Lancaster - A Face In The Mud

Carol Price - Life Could Be A Dream

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Dise Ockri - The Changing Face

Grace Raj - The Changing Face

SECONDARY SCHOOL

Billy Tonks - Chasing A Dream

Afrida Alam - Envisioning Glory

Zeenat Abdoolwahed - For The Better

Irsalan Ahmed - The Greenway

Sherena Hamilton - The Changing Face Of Hope

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

Sandra Nam - A Day in Newham

Annette du Plessis - Forgotten

R. Giridharan - From East With Glory

Chiedza Penelope Mwandiambira - Picture Perfect

2009 NEWHAM WRITING COMPETITION SHORT PLAY SHORTLIST

SHORT PLAY

Paula David – Second Chance

Annette Kamara – The 104 Bus Stop

Clive Power – Hollow The Leader

Deb Scott-Lovric – Keeping Abreast