On World Book Day, we are delighted to introduce some budding young authors and names to look out for in the future: the winners of the Bede's Writers' Competition 2020.
This year's competition was centred around the theme of ‘beauty’.
As we hoped, pupils from all year groups interpreted this stimulus in unexpected and daring ways, so it was no mean feat for us to whittle down a shortlist of writers from over fifty well-crafted submissions. This year’s judges, Mr Oliver and new librarian Miss Evans, read everything from travelogues to dystopian pieces, explorations of nature and space to meditations on swimming, roast dinners, Franz Liszt, life-drawing classes and even a human autopsy. One talented pupil not only penned an original song for the competition — but also sent an edited recording of it as her entry!
Pictured left to right: Miss Evans, Maddie Goodman, Milly Gibson, Will Quibell, Sam Bickersteth, Eliane Boyer, Jack White and Mr Oliver
After much discussion, we arrived at our junior and senior shortlists. For the junior category, Jack White’s clever monologue from the perspective of a camera allowed for some pin-sharp imagery, as well as a mature reflection on what we see as beautiful.
Camberlot’s Will Quibell also impressed with a crystal-clear evocation of a remote Highland train station, winning second place. The winner of the junior category, however, was Milly Gibson, whose mature and ambitious deconstruction of the myth of beauty astonished judges with its startling turns of phrase, as well as a brilliantly-written moment of epiphany — such a hard thing to pull off.
In the senior category, competition was perhaps even more intense. Clearly inspired by his Philosophy and English studies, Sixth Form pupil Sam Bickersteth produced a complex and nuanced poem in the Epic tradition, exploring not only nature, but also faith and human love. Miss Evans found this work warranted a rewarded multiple re-reads: surely a sign of any great work.
Alongside Sam on the shortlist was Maddie Goodman, whose finely-wrought poem taking the four seasons as a backdrop to explore mental health showed excellent judgement and scrupulous editing.
In first place in the senior category was previously shortlisted Lower Sixth pupil, Eliane Boyer, whose work caught the judges’ eyes with its terrifying setting: a work-driven future world in which beauty is an entirely unknown concept. Not only did Eliane’s piece impress with its imaginative daring, but its wonderful prose, thoughtful characterization and deft use of language also made it a deserving winner.
Once again, it was wonderful to see such a broad range of truly imaginative and accomplished work.
This year, as always, much of it will be collated for the annual Bede’s publication of Small Island, our very own creative writing and art journal. This year, with our artists taking a firm lead in the design and production of the edition, it is likely to be the best yet.
Any pupils interested in being a part of the Small Island publication should contact our Head of Art, Mr Turner, or Mr Oliver at small.island@bedes.org.
