On Tuesday 10^th of October 23, Scarborough Writers’ Circle met at Newby & Scalby Library at 7 pm. The well-known local poet, Charlotte Oliver, was the guest judge of the annual Shirley Waite Poetry Competition. Charlotte told her audience she’d found it very hard to select the winners, there being a huge variety in style and subject on the theme of ‘Refuge’. The shortest was a haiku (three lines) whilst the longest was forty lines long. When the poems were read out we quite understood Charlotte’s dilemma. The one that stuck out for our judge featured a ‘sick day’ off work that ended with a surprising twist. And so Diana Campbell became the proud owner of the trophy until this time next year. Dorinda Cass picked up a prize with ‘September Spectre 2019’ and blew us away with her wind swept moorland — ‘a spark of peace in the midst of grief’. Jill Boyes wrote about a young refugee crossing continents and was also a prize-winner. Copies of the poems can be found on display in the library for the next month or so.

            The November meeting will be lead by Maggie Fawcett on the subject of Sci-fi. Maggie is asking members to bring along a piece of self-penned Sci-fi between 300 and 350 words long. Guests can also be involved by bringing their pieces, or just turning up. In summary — 7pm Tuesday 14^th November, Newby & Scalby Library. £4 for guests. Hot drinks – £1. Everyone welcome.