Bill Budner joined Felixstowe Scribblers in August 2005 and soon afterwards registered with our online group. A really friendly and popular character, Bill made many friends at Scribblers in such a short time. His tremendous passion for writing produced many prolific words in his short stories, his mild manner and quiet voice accentuating every facet of his work.
Away from Scribblers Bill was a lay preacher and heavily involved with church affairs at St Mary's in Walton where he took over the responsibility for the parish magazine.
Bill died suddenly from a massive heart attack on Tuesday 14th February 2006 leaving his wife Maureen and family deep in shock and mourning his loss, Felixstowe Scribblers sharing their grief.
Maureen sponsored two successful writing competitions for adults and children in his memory whilst a trophy, purchased from the donation of her prize money from Belinda Janz, has become a regular and revered part of the Scribbler's programme.
This is run as an anonymous competition with the guidelines for The Bill Budner Trophy as follows:
- Short stories or poetry up to a maximum of 1,000 words on any topic
- Work must be typed (on single sides of paper)
- Entries must be completed before arrival at the meeting
- Work must be anonymous - no names or identification marks on the paper
- On arrival at the meeting work will be placed face down on a designated table
- At a given time all members will collect one entry (but not their own!) and will be given time to familiarize themselves with it -whenever possible all stories will be read by independant readers
- The stories will then be read out to the group with everyone present marking their top three entries
- At the end of the evening all marks will be added by a nominated adjudicator.
- The winner will then be announced and the prestigious Bill Budner Trophy presented to them by the previous winner.
- The trophy will then be engraved by Scott at Mr Cobbler in Felixstowe
- The trophy will be held for four months until the next competition
- The holder undertakes to return the trophy to Felixstowe Scribblers and advise of any change of address.
