The 2025 AGM was held at the Thomas Wall Community Lounge in Sutton in July. It was a well attended event hosted by outgoing chairman Chris Hawton. The new chairman, Manny Gaskin, welcomes old and new members to Sutton Writers. The autumn event schedule will appear online soon.
The Ann Patterson Memorial Prize for Poetry was awarded to Barbara Saunders [above Left] for ‘Something We Never Noticed Before’ a powerfully, beautifully evocative poem of the changing times, lives, culture and landscape. Congratulations Barbara !
Runners up were first-time entrant and fresher member Tina Gilliam with ‘A Foreboding Season’ and third place was Shirley Tennant’s ‘A Path to Spring’
The Ann Patterson Memorial Prize for Prose was won by Caroline Johnstone [above Centre] for ‘The Bridal Path’ a deeply piercing reimagining of the climax to Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Congratulations, Caroline.
Runners up were Peter Hankin for ‘Broken Glass’ and Karina Andrusiak for ‘The Keeper in the Garden’.
Sutton Writers also presented Tony Patterson [above Right] with an honourary Life Membership. Tony has worked tirelessly supporting Sutton Writers and was particularly active supporting his late wife Ann when she assumed the chairmanship for several consecutive years, skilfully maintaining the group’s local profile. Thank you, Tony, and rest assured those who do remember Ann will always remember her fondly.
The minutes and treasurer’s report were signed off, the year 2024-25 reviewed and prizes given. The evening concluded with Simon Woodham presenting two short extremely atmospheric animated films interpreting famous poems, Maurice Ogden’s ‘The Hangman’ and Alfred Noyes ‘The Highwayman’.
Lastly, and surprisingly, Sutton Writers received a small bequest from a recently departed ex-member, Margaret Shelley. The monies will be put towards establishing a new prize for young writers.