Short-story prize just the ticket

Short story winners Alison Austerberry, Magnus Cook and Colin Bishop

OLDHAM’S bus drivers are proving to have hidden talents — after motoring their way to a hat-trick of writing awards.

They even claim to be rivalling Shakespeare’s Stratford Upon Avon after First Oldham’s bus depot scooped a national short-story writing competition for the third year running.

Colin Bishop, a 38-year-old First bus driver from Mossley, beat off competition from hundreds of fellow writers across the UK to win the First Short Stories Competition for 2009.

Colin is the third local staff member to win the prize in the last three years.

Last year, Alison Austerberry, who works for the firm’s Business Development team, won the honour and in 2007, fellow Oldham bus driver Anthony Cook took the prize, which totals £3,000, including a laptop.

Colin, who has been a bus driver for 10 years, wrote a story titled “Fell and Back”.

His story is about a local fell running race, The Wharmton Dash at the annual Saddleworth Show, in which Colin took part and won.

The story tells Colin’s feelings as he takes part in the gruelling race and particularly his feelings of elation after winning the race and getting his prize from Oldham’s Mayor.

Multi-talented Colin has since gone on to win a number of local races and recently competed in the Montreal Marathon in Canada, where he finished in 41st place.

He said: “I was delighted to pick up this prize and I look forward to using my laptop to write further stories.

“There must be something in the water — maybe Oldham is the new Stratford-Upon-Avon and we are all potential William Shakespeares in this area.”

The First Short Stories Competition is an annual event open to all First bus employees across the UK. The best entries each year are compiled into a book which is distributed among staff.

Andy Scholey, managing director for First in Manchester, said: “First short stories is an innovative staff competition which encourages staff to write about their experiences.

“Congratulations go to Colin who has carried on our company’s recent successes in this prestigious competition.”