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Spooky Glossop Tales
The winners of a competition in which local authors were asked to write
a short story on a theme of 'spooky Glossop' have been announced.
Peter Forsland won the over-16 section with Amberland,
a gripping piece that concerns the wartime aeroplane wrecks in the hills
above Glossop. Runner-up is Susan Grey, with Mistletoe in May,
a chilling tale centred on mysterious happenings at Combe Rocks.
The winner in the under-16 section is 12-year-old Ruth Latusak
with Kerry, an atmospheric thriller that evokes Glossop's mill heritage.
Joan Carr, also aged 12, is runner-up with a thought-provoking
psychological chiller entitled Playing Both Sides.
Special mention was given to Julian Jones in the over-16 section
for The Uninvited Guest and to 11-year-old Jack Waygood - the
youngest entrant - whose story On a Winter Night in Glossop
gives a taste of the thrills in store.
The winners will receive £10 book tokens and the runners-up £5
book tokens, donated by Best Sellers Bookshop and Glossop Bookshop. The
winning stories will be read by local professional actors Mary Cunningham
and Martin Wenner at Glossop Mayfest's evening of Film and Fiction Shorts
at Glossop Labour Club on Sunday (May 5) from 8.00pm.
The adjudicators were impressed with the quality and variety of the stories
that were entered in the competition and the ability of the writers to
express so many aspects of 'Spooky Glossop'. It is hoped that the competition
will be run again next year.
On a Winter Night in Glossop
by Jack Waygood
Late that winter night, Tom and Jackie, students at St James School,
were on their way back from the library which had shut early for winter.
So even though now it was one of the coldest, darkest nights, they were
able to find their way home.
As they slowly walked past the square, the Glossop clock on the tower
began to ring. A strange, pale figure came out of the mist. Tom recognised
the face. It was or appeared to be Miss Vincent, the ground keeper. She was
never properly given the job, but she always seemed to be there when the flowers
were dying.
She turned around and looked Tom straight in the eyes. Tom and Jackie
took a right turn and made their way home quickly.
The next day the children went over to Miss Vincent's house to see if
she was alright.
As they came to number 2 Collier Street, they saw a police car parked
outside her house, and a 'For Sale' sign that looked as if it had been up
for days. They walked up the path. The door was open, so they let themselves
in. A tall man rushed out, streaming with tears. A policeman came over to
the children and told them to step outside.
"Is Miss Vincent OK? asked Jackie in a puzzled tone.
The policeman explained that Miss Vincent was not there. She had died
a week ago.
The children now felt very, very unsafe. |
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