Grandad inspires student’s win

A poem inspired by his late grandfather won first place in a writing competition for a West Norfolk student.

Max Cawston, in Year 7 at St Clement’s High School, penned ‘Man on the Moon’ as his entry for the Rotary Young Writers Competition, which had ‘Peace’ as its theme this year.

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Although Max’s grandfather died before the results of the competition were announced, Max was able to read the winning poem at the funeral.

St Clement’s High is a member of West Norfolk Academies Trust, and was not the only Trust school to taste success in the competition, in which entrants were required to write either a maximum of 550 words of prose or up to 40 lines of poetry.

Year 7 students Pippa Berry and Lyra Cummings from Smithdon High School in Hunstanton received runner-up prizes in the Intermediate 11 to 13 category, while there were also WNAT placings in the Junior seven to 10 age group.

Eleven-year-old Pippa commented: “When I was told I was runner-up in the competition I felt very proud of myself.”

Lyra, also 11, added: “I loved writing this story, so it was amazing to know somebody enjoyed reading it."

At Heacham Junior School, Penelope Simons in Year 5 and Archie Scott in Year 6 were both awarded runner-up prizes in the competition, along with Abby Crame at Snettisham Primary School, who is also in Year 6.

Ten-year-old Penelope’s entry was a poem which compared the world to a playground with childish disputes, the sea with its waves and tides, and a tower with countless steps.

She said: “I decided to write a poem because it seemed more appropriate as the theme was peace – poems are creative and peaceful ways to express yourself.”

Archie, who is 11, wrote a story following different generations of one family from the time of the First World War through to the present day.

“I enjoyed writing this story,” Archie said. “My great great grandad inspired me, because he was in the RAF during the Second World War.”

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