SCHOOLBOY SHORTLISTED FOR HONOUR IN STORY-WRITING COMPETITON
9th March 2009
North Yorkshire schoolboy Ben Foggitt hopes to follow in the footsteps of Oscar-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy after being shortlisted in a story-writing competition named after him.
Ben, 11, headboy at Belmont Grosvenor School, Harrogate, is one of four youngsters hoping to take the top award in the Year 5 and 6 category of the annual Simon Beaufoy Short Story contest.
Belmont Grosvenor School, based at Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, has a history of producing excellent story-writers – last year’s winner of the competition was pupil Eric Bainbridge, and former pupil Francesca Bexon has also taken the title.
The competition was started three years ago in honour of Simon Beaufoy, whose film Slumdog Millionaire swept the board at last month’s Oscar ceremony.
Ben, who lives in Harrogate, chose the title – Fast Forward 40 years – for his story. And he is keeping his fingers crossed he wins when the winners are announced next week. (Tuesday )
The competition, run by Simon’s former school, Malsis School at Cross Hills, drew entries from 11 independent schools across the Yorkshire region – winners will be announced in a ceremony next week, with awards handed out by Simon Beaufoy’s father Roger.
Anne Smith, Ben’s English teacher at Belmont Grosvenor School, said: “I am delighted that Ben’s story has been shortlisted. He writes with an imaginative flair and has real potential as an author in the making!
“Everyone at BGS wishes him luck and we are all very proud of him.”
Belmont Grosvenor School, set in 20 acres of countryside at Birstwith, near Harrogate, is an independent prep school for boys and girls, aged from three months to 11 years.
