Nominations for the £1450 worth of prizes to be awarded to the winners of this year's H G Well Festival Writers' Competition were announced on Friday (23 September) at a Literary Tea Party at the Grand.

The tea party was co-hosted by organiser Reg Turnill and Michael Stainer of the Grand, and chaired by writer and former model, Sandra Howard, the wife of the former MP for Folkestone and Hythe, Michael Howard. The eight finalists were asked to talk about and read extracts from their short stories, which were on the theme of Life in the 21 Century.

The finalists, in the 25-years and under category (for which there is a prize of £1000), are Andrew Barr, from Folkestone who is an undergraduate at the University of London; Rachel White from Temple Ewell a recent graduate from the University of Chichester and a member of The Temple Ewell Players; and Sarah Unsworth, a primary school teacher from Folkestone.

The finalists in the over-25 category are Helen Derry from Saltwood who is the oldest finalist in the contest at 71 years; actress and photographer Karol Steele from Dover, Bryan Rylands from Folkestone, who has two stories in the final, Grant Gibson from Hythe, a retired businessman who has just written his first book, and 26-year-old Michael D'Nes from Kew, who was a runner-up in the Under-25 section of the competition last year.

The prizes, which have been donated by Reg Turnill, Michael Stainer and Ann Nevill, will be awarded by Lady Howard and Sir Peter Sissons at a special buffet at the Grand on Sunday 23 October, to which members of the public are invited to attend.

For more information log onto http://www.wellsfestival.com  or http://www.grand-uk.com/H.G_Wells.html

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©