Writer Christine’s first-time success

Christine Evans (front left) received her prize from Jane Mathieson at Failsworth Library. With them are (from the left), Kath Jones, Jeanette Lomas, Punham Ramchurn, Linden Milner and Heather Ferrier

History boy story claims a prize

KEEN writer Christine Evans is celebrating after weaving a tale of historical fiction that earned her a first writing prize — at the age of 67.

A member of Failsworth’s Library’s writing group, Christine came runner-up in a regional contest to find the best historical writers.

Open to writers across the North-West, “Pages Ago” was run by the Regional Reading Development Scheme, and Christine, of Hollinwood, impressed judges with her 300-word piece called “Boot Boy”.

In it, she paints a picture of a scene as seen by the 10-year-old boot boy of the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo.

Christine, who is married to Peter and has three grown-up children and six grandchildren, was awarded £50 for her efforts, and she is still deliberating how to spend her winnings.

She said: “It was the first writing competition I have entered, and I am excited to have won an award.”

One of the judges, Patricia Duncker, said: “This was a clever, arresting piece, which demands that the reader knows who ‘Arfur’ the ‘boot boy’ is, and what happened at Waterloo.

“The voice is engaging, touchingly patriotic, yet aware of the chaos and slaughter around him.

“It is a classic device to approach a famous event through a marginal figure and that is well done here.”