Great prizes on offer as BG links up with the Friendship Festival

The first friendship festival took place on the third Sunday of May last year and it’s happening again on Sunday, May 20, this year.

And as part of the activities, the Banbury Guardian has teamed up with the festival for a ‘50 Words on Friendship’ writing competition for those in each of three categories – school years three to six, seven to nine and 10 to 13.

One of the event organisers Judith Mason said: “What does friendship mean to you? Could you write about friendship in 50 words?

“Be creative, use words in prose or in poetry – or perhaps a Japanese Haiku (three lines of five, seven and five syllables) – tell everyone what friendship means to you.”

In each category there will be a first, second and third prize of £25, £15 and £10 in book tokens respectively.

All three winners in each category will also have their entries published in the Banbury Guardian in the issue of May 17.

The line-up of events on May 20 will include breakfast in the Community Garden for those who have taken part in the early morning nature walk, a parade of the butterflies decorated for last year’s festival, music and interviews with Bob Dainty in the Market Square, Know Your Banbury history walks, a tour of Merton Street Mosque and entertainment in The Cornhill Centre.

Judith added: “For one day, all the various communities, which make up the larger society of Banbury, have the opportunity to meet each other and to discover and enjoy their differences. Banbury has a wide and interesting mix of people.

“Our ancient market town, with its rural identity, has continued to grow and profit from many different populations.

The closing date for the competition is Monday, April 30 and entries must be sent to:

50 Words on Friendship Competition, The Banbury Guardian, Colin Sanders Innovation Centre, Mewburn Road, Banbury OX16 9PA or emailed to [email protected]

All entries must be of no more than 50 words, from pupils of schools in the town of Banbury and received by noon on the closing day.

Entries must include your name, age, school and school year.

It must also include contact details either for your school – or for your parent if you are sending the entry in separately from school.

A panel of judges will then consider the entries and winners will be contacted ahead of their work appearing in the paper on May 17.