I was delighted to be invited to present the inaugural Leeds Children’s Creative Writing Awards, a wonderful opportunity to recognise all the talent here in our very creative city. As this is the first year, I awarded the Lord Mayor’s Golden Owl Award to Beeston Hill St Luke’s CoE Primary School for their outstanding contribution to creative writing in Leeds. The Golden Owl awards are given in recognition of individuals, local charities, organisations and community groups who have made exceptional contributions to the city.
The award features the city’s iconic owl emblem, a nod to the gold-leafed statues atop the Civic Hall. I was informed by the judges that they had a very difficult job making their decisions. I wanted to ensure the talents of all the young writers was also recognised, and gave each a gold pin badge of the golden owl, because their imagination and creative writing skills were so wonderful.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heart felt congratulations to each and every young person who entered the competition. Ninety one of you in total from twenty schools all across the city. To have the courage to submit your creative idea, and to have your work judged is a huge deal. I would give particular recognition to the following children who were invited to perform their creative writing;
Georgina, Richmond House Primary School Eshaan, Beeston hill St Lukes C of E Primary School Lucie, Whitcliffe Mount School Amber, Greenside Primary School Pudsey Omoiyekewmen, Brave Words
And finally I would like to give thanks to Cllr Jane Dowson, Leeds City Council representative for Culture for accompanying me at the Awards, and helping me to shine a light on the creative writing talent in our wonderful city.
