Roald Dahl Centenary Celebration

Celebrate the life and works of one of the world’s most popular childrens’ writers by submitting your own stories to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s 2016 libraries anthology. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The competition is open to all ages, and original short stories can be based on any subject based on the “themes and ideas” inspired by Roald Dahl. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Born in Cardiff in 1916 to Norwegian parents, Road Dahl’s books have sold over 200M copies worldwide. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

His books include The Gremlins, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox, Danny the Champion of the World, The Twits, Matilda, Esio Trot – many of which have been turned into movies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is launching its 2016 anthology to celebrate the centenary of his birth. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Described as “one of the greatest children’s storytellers of the 20th Century,” Roald Dahl was named Children’s Author of the Year in 1990 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature in 1983. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Roald Dahl died in 1990 at the age of 74. In 2002, Roald Dahl Plass was named in his honour at Cardiff Bay. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Joy Rosser, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Libraries and Heritage, said: “Roald Dahl was one of the greatest children’s writers of all time. It is therefore fitting that we celebrate his birth with our annual anthology in his honour. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“His works have entertained generations of children, and continue to do so almost 20 years after his death. I look forward to seeing the entries to our 2016 libraries anthology, inspired by the life and works of Roald Dahl.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Original short stories and poems should be no longer than 2,000 words and can be submitted in either English or Welsh. The closing date for entries is Thursday, June 30. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Email your entries to Richard.Reed@rctcbc.gov.uk All entries will be judged in the summer months, with the winning entries featuring in the 2016 anthology, due to be published in October. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhondda Cynon Taf has 13 library branches across the County Borough, offering a vast library catalogue of books to suit all ages and tastes, DVDs, CDs, audio books, as well as access to archive material, e-books and online material and public access to computers with free internet access. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council also provides a free Housebound Library Service and Mobile Library Service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​