We are delighted to share the success of two St Anthony's pupils in the D.H. Lawrence Children's Prize: Writing Competition.

This year's competition, organised by the D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum, invited young writers from across the country to submit a poem or short story of no more than 500 words on the theme of Friendship. The theme was inspired by the many friendships that shaped the life of D.H. Lawrence, from his childhood in Eastwood to his relationships with fellow writers and companions throughout his travels.

The competition attracted entries from children across the UK in three age categories, with prizes awarded for outstanding creativity and writing. 

We are incredibly proud to announce that Ned in Year 8 was awarded First Prize in his age category for his story The Weight of a Ticket. 

We are equally pleased to celebrate Andrew in Year 8, whose moving story Ben was awarded Highly Commended by the judges. 

Both boys have been invited to attend the awards ceremony at the D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum in Eastwood, where prizes and certificates will be presented. This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to their creativity, dedication and love of writing!

We hope to publish Ned's prize-winning story in a future edition of the Antonian. In the meantime, we are delighted to share Andrew's highly commended entry.

Congratulations to both boys on this outstanding accomplishment!

 

Ben

When I was a child, I had a friend: Ben. He wasn’t just the Christmas gift of my dreams, but the first friend I ever had. He was irresistibly positive – a loudspeaker playing on full blast with no off switch. As soon as the weather would allow it, we would dash to the parks, and I would frolic in the luscious grass fields as blurry images of flowers flew past and the sun caressed our faces.

Ben was a Golden Retriever and his ears flopped wildly as he bounded through the house, a smile of glee spreading across his face. I remember my parents telling me at the time, “You and Ben have a special something inside of each of you – you were destined for each other.”

But as I grew older, the pressures of being a single child started to pile on me, and Ben could not share this burden. He did the best he could though; he was at my side through the long, hard nights of studying, reading, revising – like a flame which could never be smothered.

And then, without warning... Ding! My phone echoed during our daily walks. A text from the most popular guy in school changed everything: “Wanna hang out?”

Ben’s walks aren’t that important, I thought. I have to teach him that he can’t always get what he wants. Right? I slid the leash from his neck, and in doing so, I felt it slip onto mine. It was a leash that held me to another world: parties, then burning the midnight oil; hanging out, then hitting the books; going for pizza, then cramming algebra into my head.

Ben still sat there, waiting patiently.

It was one week away from finals. All or nothing. Cramped in my tiny room and shivering in a corner. I. Was. Drained. My thoughts were spinning, my breathing sped up, my ears were pulsating, my eyes were teary, my head was on fire — and then a bark broke through all of it.

Ben.

I was in a field again. Ben was there, peeking through the wheat, searching for his squeaky toy. Slowly, I stood up. I strode past my desk, my closet, my bed, and approached Ben.

***

The night was truly beautiful. I led Ben to our usual spot out into the grass field, beneath the starry night sky. Something shot past.

“Quick, Ben, make a wish!”

He wriggled playfully, rolling around on the grass. For the first time in weeks, I felt as though a mighty weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Ben and I soared once again; we raced past the flowers and the stars, my arms outstretched and Ben’s ears flopping wilder than ever.

As we approached home, I felt my meandering thoughts settle down, cooled by the night air. The steady rhythm of the walk had given me clarity. I have two topics to revise and three days to cover them, I thought. Two topics, three days. That felt manageable.