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Winners announced in first Bill Mowat short story competition





Bill Mowat, 'a man of many words', passed away in August 2023 at the age of 80. Picture: Callum Mackay
Bill Mowat, 'a man of many words', passed away in August 2023 at the age of 80. Picture: Callum Mackay

Winners have been announced in the inaugural short story competition in memory of Bill Mowat, the journalist, historian and councillor from John O’Groats who died last year.

It was organised by John O’Groats Development Trust and John O’Groats Book Festival and was open to writers resident in Scotland.

The overall winner was Susan Andrew, for her story entitled Ray. Calum Falconer was highly commended for Light and Dark, while a story called The Lighthouse Keeper earned the under-16 prize for Maree Ford.

The lead judge was Gail Anthea Brown, novelist, short story writer and blogger.

Ian Leith, a trustee of John O’Groats Development Trust and one of the festival organisers, said: “The late Bill Mowat was himself a man of many words. Working as a journalist for many years he covered events far and wide, yet his heart was always in his home area of John O’Groats.

“As a tribute to the life and work of Bill Mowat, the John O’Groats Book Festival launched a short story competition in conjunction with the Duncansby lighthouse centenary celebrations and suggested that the story theme might revolve around lighthouses.

“The competition is intended to be an annual event.

“We were delighted with the response this first year and, along with a presentation event later in the year, we aim to produce a small booklet including the three stories given awards by our judge.

“We are particularly grateful to author Gail Anthea Brown in acting as judge – a challenge she accepted and applied a rigorous process to ensure that each story was judged on a fair and equal basis.”

Bill Mowat passed away in August 2023, aged 80. He represented north-east Caithness on Highland Regional Council for 16 years. He was chairman of Gills Harbour Ltd and a member of Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council.

Bill worked as an Inverness-based reporter for the Daily Record, having started out in journalism as Thurso-based editor of the Caithness Courier.

The launch of the Bill Mowat Memorial Short Story Competition coincided with the Duncansby lighthouse centenary festival in John O'Groats in March. Picture: Alan Hendry
The launch of the Bill Mowat Memorial Short Story Competition coincided with the Duncansby lighthouse centenary festival in John O'Groats in March. Picture: Alan Hendry

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