Sight for Wight held their 13th Annual Story Writing Awards, at Newport’s Riverside Centre, organised by Chris Cane of the Charity, with Master of Ceremonies Maurice Kachuk introducing Chief Executive Lisa Hollyhead, Chair of Trustees Sue Bungey and special guest IW High Sheriff Mrs Kay Marriott JP and Gioia Minghella-Giddens.

The category winners were Scarlett Maddison-Wigg with ‘The Dangerous Sea’, in the under 8’s; Katy Trafford for ‘The Sea Maze’ in the under 11’s; Rachel Lambert and ‘The Sea’ in the under 17’s; and Juliet Bell for ‘Cometh The Hour’ in the 18+ category.

ABOVE: UNDER 8’s WINNER, SCARLETT MADDISON-WIGG, RECEIVING HER AWARD FROM THE HIGH SHERIFF, KAY MARRIOTT

BELOW YOU CAN LISTEN TO SCARLETT’S WINNING STORY, RECORDED BY RICHARD CADELL, BELOW

ABOVE: 8 – 11’s WINNER, KATY TRAFFORD, RECEIVING HER AWARD FROM THE HIGH SHERIFF, KAY MARRIOTT

YOU CAN LISTEN TO KATY’S WINNING STORY, RECORDED BY MARK SIMMONS, BELOW

ABOVE: 12 – 17s WINNER, RACHEL LAMBERT, RECEIVING HER AWARD FROM THE HIGH SHERIFF, KAY MARRIOTT

YOU CAN LISTEN TO RACHEL’S WINNING STORY, RECORDED BY BETHANNIE HARE, BELOW

ABOVE: THE UNDER 18’s WINNERS WITH THE HIGH SHERIFF, KAY MARRIOTT (left) and LISA HOLLYHEAD, CEO (right)

ABOVE: 18+ WINNER, JULIET BELL RECEIVING HER AWARD AT MILLBROOKE HOUSE

YOU CAN LISTEN TO JULIET’S WINNING STORY, COMETH THE HOUR, BELOW

Celebrities Richard Cadell (Sooty & Sweet puppeteer), Comedian Mark Simmons, Hollyoaks’ Bethannie Hare and Doc Martin creator Dominic Minghella, read the winning stories which are available on the Sight for Wight website.

ABOVE: RICHARD CADELL

ABOVE: MARK SIMMONS

ABOVE: BETHANNIE HARE

ABOVE: DOMINIC MINGHELLA

Mrs Marriott said ‘The evening was a great success and showcased the young story telling talent we have on the Island, as well as highlighting the invaluable work that the Charity provides for Island People with sight and sensory needs.’

The Society was established in 1865, provides a range of services and activities, including audio groups and library service, a monthly striders group, mix & mingle and low-vision sessions, as well as swimming and lunch clubs.

Ms Hollyhead added ‘Thanks to Chris for organising the event, to all of our generous sponsors, to our entertainers, to all of our volunteers, and most of all to our writers for putting pen to paper, giving the judges and guest readers difficult decisions to make’.

ABOVE: CEO, LISA HOLLYHEAD, WELCOMING EVERYONE TO THE AWARD CEREMONY

Runners-up included Christian Smith-Jones (The Sea Beast Under); Lucia Franco (The Cats That Go Out), Lyra Forster (The Amazing Adventures Of Dave The Octopus – The Mysterious Pearl); Lillian Woodford (The Beast); Evie Quick (The Painting); Dominic Finch (Lost At Sea); David Goodday (The Mystery of Luccombe Bay); Paul Clarke (The Sea); June Elford (Measure of Spirit); Paul Rutherford (The Bermuda Triangle); River Watson (Black Wave); and Mark Staveley (Stories Of Finn).

Entertainment was provided by Sounds Lively, Ben Stubbs and Stevo the Magician.

ABOVE: SOUNDS LIVELY

ABOVE: STEVE THE MAGICIAN

ABOVE: BEN STUBBS

A thank you to our sponsors: ASDA, Appley Manor, Chale Parish Council, ComiCoffee, Margaret Dilley, Dinosaur Isle, The Entertainer, Janice Ferguson, Garlic Farm, Sharon Gritt, Morrison’s Newport, Newport Parish Council, Richard Priest, Red Funnel, Sandham Office Services, Sandown Town Council, TESCO, Ventnor Botanic Garden, Waitrose East Cowes, Waterstones, Wight Business Services, Wight Computers