The Stour Valley Landscape Partnership

An Arts Exhibition for the Stour Valley in 2013. The exhibition will take place at St Peter’s Church, Sudbury on 1st to the 13th March 2013 

An open, unselected, exhibition for residents of the Stour Valley, to celebrate the landscape, people, history and heritage of the Valley. We are putting together an art exhibition in Sudbury this spring and welcome everyone to take part. 

Reminder...

 Hope you all had a superb Christmas and wish everyone a productive New Year.

Just to remind you that next Tuesday's meeting, the first of this new year will consist of an AGM for the first half and then a short four word exercise, so bring along your words and writing material.

See you all then,

Barry.

Workshop with a difference...

First competition of the new year

from Grace Dieu Writers' Circle

What better way to start the year than to write a Short Story or Poem and submit to our 2013 competition, details below.

Grace Dieu Writers' Circle 2013 Short Story and Poetry Competition

Poetry Competition: A poem on any subject - maximum 40 lines

1st Prize: £500; 2nd Prize: £200; 3rd Prize: £100; 4th Prize: £75; 5th Prize: £50

Entry Fees: £4 for one poem or £12 for four, £3 for each additional entry over four

Short Story Competition: A story on any subject - maximum 2,000 words

1st Prize: £500; 2nd Prize: £200; 3rd Prize: £100; 4th Prize: £75; 5th Prize: £50

Entry Fees: £5 for first and £3 for additional stories

Closing Date: 28th February, 2013

Full details and entry forms can be found on our website at www.gracedieuwriterscircle.co.uk

Alternatively to receive a competition leaflet, please send a SAEto:

The Competition Organiser, 23 Henson Way, Sharnford,Leicestershire, LE10 3PN

A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

There are just a few hours left of 2012 here in the UK... For the Scribblers the year has been fascinating with an eclectic collection of stories and poems all delivered with the love of the written word utmost at all times. We have seen some members leave the regular meeting place but we have welcomed new members also.

As 2013 approaches so the Scribblers will face new challenges with their creativity and will rise to them. Let us hope that come the end of the New Year we will have seen more writers published and, perhaps, broadcast on radio.

We have received messages of goodwill from our friends in Brisbane, Belinda and Geoff for the New Year. Shame there are so many miles between us for Belinda was a tremendous asset to our group during her spell in England.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 8th January 2013 at 7.30pm in The Room at the Top when we will hold our AGM so, anything members wish to raise please let either Barry or Dave know. The AGM which, hopefully will be quite a brief affair, will be followed by another of our popular four word writing exercises.

Finally  Rebccah Giltrow has published an interview about the Felixstowe Scribblers on her thoroughly absorbing  blog which can be viewed here.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

Memory of a loved one.

THE EMPTY PLACE

Clarity of thought, of memory, of will,

Warms the heart from the wintry chill,

Then set the festive dinner table,

One place, solitary, no label.

For there should sit in the family group,

The one to complete the genetic loop.

Yet absence from this place again,

The toast, then tears, memory, pain -

Thirty-five years have coldly gone,

Since the seat was last taken on.

So why the need for this pretence?

Prolonging the agonising absence.

Of course, we know, we care, we love,

Our beloved one in His care above.

The loss, the death, so cruelly fated -

Earthly life now celebrated. 

© Dave Feakes

Merry Xmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to everyone!