Kathleen George Memorial Writing Competition Launched

Children in Powys are being encouraged to take part in a writing competition, which has been launched in memory of a former librarian. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The inaugural Kathleen George Memorial Writing Competition was launched at Llanwrtyd Wells Library last month (Saturday 28 May). The competition is open to all Powys children and entries can be submitted at any Powys library. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The competition is in memory of the late Kathleen George, who was a librarian in Llanwrtyd Wells and Llandrindod Wells for over 20 years. The launch of the competition marked the first anniversary of Kathleen’s death after a brave battle with cancer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Children are invited to write a short story of up to 500 works on the subject of magic, a theme close to Kathleen’s heart. There are two age categories, 7-11 and 12-15 and £10 and £5 book tokens will be given to the winner and runner-up in each category. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The closing date is Saturday 21 August at 12pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Members of Irfon Arts (a local writing group of which Kathleen was a founding member), Lynda Pace Avery and Jan Newton, organised the event in partnership with Powys County Council’s Library Service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The launch was attended by Kathleen’s friends, family and former borrowers. A poetry reading was held to mark the occasion, including one of her own poems entitled ‘Ty’r Gof’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Kathleen’s daughter, Verity Jones said: “As a family we were very honoured when Irfon Arts approached us about the writing prize. Mum was a prolific writer both through her poetry and her blogging pseudonym Cait O’Connor. It’s wonderful that her memory will live on through this very fitting prize.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Graham Brown, Cabinet Member for Library Services, said: “Kathleen George was a valued member of the library service, a great advocate for reading to the local school and a focal point for local community groups and borrowers. This competition is a fitting way to remember her and her passion for writing.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Llanwrtyd Wells Library will be holding an open morning on Saturday 25 June between 10am-12pm. The morning, which will be showing the different services the library provides to its users, is being supported by the local town council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​