Young writers' prize-winning works on display

The annual competition encourages budding authors to write imaginative and creative poetry or prose, with this year's entries inspired by the theme of 'peace'.

Open to all schools and colleges in the borough, the competition caters for three age groups - junior (up to and including ten years-old), intermediate (11 to 13-years-old) and senior (14 to 17-years-old).

During the competition, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum invited young writers to workshops with professional writer and Coventry Poet Laurette, Emilie Lauren Jones.

And all the winners were invited to the Town Hall in May by the Mayor of Rugby, Cllr Maggie O'Rourke, to receive certificates in the Mayor's Parlour.

Oliver Hedditch, of Lawrence Sheriff School, won the senior prize, while fellow Sheriff pupil Dexter Robinson took the intermediate honours.

Bilton Junior School's Anaiah Akinnayajo won the junior prize, and both Anaiah and Oliver made it a double success at the district stage of the competition, winning the Heart of England top prizes to secure a place in the national final later this year.

All the winning pieces have now gone on display in the foyer at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, and can be viewed until Sunday 30 July.

Cllr O'Rourke said: "It's a remarkable feat for Rugby to produce the winners of both the senior and junior age categories at the Heart of England district final, contested by more than 50 local Rotary Clubs across the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire.

"The quality of all Rugby's winning works was a testament to the talent of these young writers, and I'd encourage everyone to take the opportunity to visit the display at our Art Gallery and Museum."

For more information about exhibitions and events at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, visit www.ragm.co.uk