Bringing Festival Cheer to Local Competition Winners

Words by Kate Butler

FOR the last few weeks, budding wordsmiths from across Greater Manchester have been plucking inspiration from historical characters and events, for the local-themed competition, Postcards from Christmases Past.

In a spin-off from the on-going competition, Postcards from the Past, a panel of judges from MMU sifted through sacks of entries covering a variety of festive themes, eventually agreeing on six lucky winners, who were announced on Friday.

Winners

John Herbert, 54 from Rochdale, Patricia Brock, 73 from Salford, Joseph Noble, 10 from St. John Fisher R.C Primary School, Christine Penney, 45 from Stockport, Noreen Dermody, 56 from Stretford and William West aged 62 from Chorlton, impressed the judges with their well-written, imaginative and touching messages, which are soon to be featured in their local newspapers.

From school history projects to keen postcard collectors, each individual had their own reasons for entering the competition. Each postcard uniquely encapsulated the Christmas festivities, be it through a moving story passed down through family generations, a celebration of the thriving hat industry in Denton in 1872, or whilst seeking shelter during a terrifying Christmas Eve bombing raid in 1940.

Postcards from the Past

The winners will be automatically entered in the Postcards from the Past competition, a collaboration from the Manchester Children's Book Festival and the Manchester Literature Festival. It is free to enter and open to anyone from age 8 upwards. The competition invites participants to write a postcard from a real or fictional character, which can be from any chosen time in history.  Winners will get to have their postcards designed professionally and will receive 100 copies. The the deadline is 20^th July 2013, so start writing!

For more information, please visit: www.mcln.org.uk/postcards_competition.php 

Christmas Competition with MEN Media

Postcards from Christmases Past invites readers of MEN Media local titles to submit a local-themed Christmas postcard. The best local entries will be published by the relevant MEN Media title in their Christmas editions. 

Were Christmases always better? Write a postcard and share your memories of Christmas in your community. Or send a postcard from a historical character or event.

Postcards should be no longer than 200 words and can be written as though from real or fictional characters. Entry is free and open to anyone aged 8 or above. 

· Simply write your postcard, attach a copy of the completed form to your postcard entry (or cut and paste the information into an email) and send it to: mcbfcln@mmu.ac.uk. 

· Or post a printed copy to:

  Manchester Metropolitan University, 

  Room 123, Geoffrey Manton Building,

  Rosamond Street West,

  Manchester M15 6LL 

  Click here for entry form.

Entries must be received by 12 noon on Friday 7th December 2012.

The best entries category will be published in your local paper.  If you have photographs to share, even better, but please do not send originals as we cannot guarantee to return them. If your entry is selected you will be contacted by telephone shortly after the deadline.