Short story competition won by one of Thames Valley Writers founding members

THE Thames Valley Writers Circle has just celebrated 30 years since its formation, which followed a writing evening class at Theale Green School.

Some of the members decided they would like to keep meeting together and so the Circle was born.

By a coincidence, its latest short story competition has been won by one of its founding members.

Two short story competitions are held each year, this one is judged by members rather than an outside judge. Although members can read all the entries, their authors are hidden from them.

It is therefore purely coincidental that the story Park Life which received the highest marks, was written by Joyce Robinson who was one of those Theale evening class members who decided to stick together 30 years ago. Joyce was for many years secretary of the Circle.

Park Life is a gentle, beautifully written story of a widowed pensioner who included in his morning constitutional, taking a seat on the bench in the local park, watching and occasionally talking to others who frequented the park, and remembering the days he and his wife would sit there, drinking their coffee from the adjacent coffee kiosk.