Javea short story competition is a winner

EARLIER this year, the Javea based station Bay Radio, launched a short story competition.

It was the first of its kind and no one had any idea of what sort of response the station would receive.

Within no time, the listening public made their views quite clear by submitting over 80 entries, virtually turning the main studio into a publisher’s office overnight.

Presenter Tony Myles, who first suggested the idea, said how impressed he was, not only with the volume of entries, but also the creative approach and quality of writing. ‘The standards were so high, at one stage I told the station manager Andy Stammers that there was so little to choose between stories, that we may have to award everyone a prize.

Fortunately for our budgets and the generous sponsorship of the Benitachell Arts Centre, the judges did a miraculous job and managed after several recounts, to choose a winner.”

“But even then, we had to create a runner-up category as the judges remained deadlocked between making a final choice between two entries.”

The winning author was Andy Crabb of Jesus Pobre with his story, ‘The Last Walk.’

A sensitive and emotional but heart warming story about a little girl asking innocent questions of her 81-year-old grandmother about cancer during hospital visits.

The secret behind the Mona Lisa’s smile was revealed by runner up author, ‘Magpie’ in a historical piece that would not be out of place in today’s ‘Loose Women’ society.

A success story, but will Bay repeat the competition at a later date?

Andy Stammers told the EWN, ‘We will certainly be considering a similar annual event. as we pride ourselves on our ability to listen and offer as wide a range of entertainment our listeners demand.

We very much appreciate the voluntary efforts of the panel of judges, Benny Davis, Mike Martin and Noelle Wyman. And narrators Jeff and Jane Corbett of the Monte Pego Theatre Company for their excellent on-air short story readings.

Winning author Andy Crabb, will be researching his next novel in September this year, when he will walk from Palamós, (north of Barcelona), to the French border, completing his long march from Cartagena to France, more or less following Hannibal’s footsteps and some of El Cid’s.

‘When I reach the border I hope to find the grave of Walter Benjamin, a philosopher who was refused entry into Spain.

By Benny Davis