James Peters (9) from Rugeley has been announced as winner of Lichfield Festival’s children’s story writing competition. His winning entry ‘Endless Journeys, Endless Adventures’ has been recorded by the actor, broadcaster and writer Stephen Fry.
In James’s winning story, a tin can dreams of the ‘endless adventures’ it might have through recycling.
James, who is a pupil at Hob Hill Primary School, Rugeley, said: “Wow! It’s so amazing to hear Stephen Fry reading my story. I couldn’t believe it! I hope my story makes people want to recycle more.”
Launched by Lichfield Festival as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, the competition challenged children to write an original short story on the theme of Green Journeys, real or imaginary, or to think about how they might change and save the world. The competition was sponsored by EQUANS, who are re-developing Rugeley Power Station, leading the way in low carbon solutions to bring a greener future for us all.
Stephen Fry performed at the very first Lichfield Festival in 1982 with Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson in their Cambridge Footlights days. Best known to children as narrator of the UK editions of the Harry Potter audiobooks and video games, Fry came to fame in the 1980s as one half of the comic duo Fry & Laurie and through TV series including Blackadder and Jeeves & Wooster.
Damian Thantrey, Director of Lichfield Festival said: “James’s story stood out immediately when we read it: funny, engaging and with a clear ‘journey’ – not easy to do in such a short story. He was a clear winner for our panel and we are all thrilled for him, and hugely grateful to Stephen Fry for supporting both Lichfield Festival and the young writers in this way.”
Running from 7-17 July, Lichfield Festival is one of the leading cultural organisations in the West Midlands. Formed as a registered charity in 1981, the Festival marks its 40th anniversary in 2022.
