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Competition winners and judges
Terry Adlam proudly displays the winner's trophy after the results of Slough Writers radio drama competition were announced. Looking on from the left are Michael Pearcy who came third, playwright Mike Walker who was a judge with Duncan McLarty assistant editor at BBC radio Berkshire and on the extreme right Lee Taylor who took second place in the competition. To read the full press release click here.
Press Release for Results and Prize Giving
SLOUGH CENTRE STAGE
Slough Writers had two top flight judges at their meeting last week to announce the winners of the group’s radio play competition. The judges were Duncan McLarty, assistant editor for BBC Radio Berkshire and established playwright Mike Walker who has a string of successful radio productions to his credit.

The winner of the competition was club chairman Terry Adlam who wrote a drama set on a train delayed at Slough station. Second place went to Lee Taylor whose play examined the reasons why Slough was missing from Russian maps during the cold war. Third was Michael Pearcy with a historical drama built around the fact that Charles Dickens kept a mistress in Slough.

The brief for the competition was to write a fifteen minute radio play featuring Slough which has been the home of the writing group for over forty years. Many other subjects inspired the writers including the Chalvey Stab Monk, William Herschel, a romance set at the ice arena and an asylum seeking cab driver who foils a bomb plot.

Winning dramatist Terry Adlam said, "Slough is full of potential for drama, comedy and romance. As soon as you start looking you realise you are spoilt for choice."

Judge Duncan McLarty who previously worked in BBC radio drama said, "radio offers writers immense creative freedom and I was very impressed with the variety of subjects the writers tackled." Mr McLarty’s work includes award winning community based drama like Oxford Rd - The Story, a community-soap based in Reading and The Plot, set on an allotment in Chalvey, Slough which won a Gold at the Sony Radio awards.

At the prize giving writer Mike Walker talked about his experiences working for Radio 4 drama and in television. "I really enjoyed reading these plays and especially meeting the writers. None of them matched the image I created of them based on their work. Fascinating," he said.

Mike Walker also spoke about his novel writing and his latest book aimed at young adults and entitled Bad Company which will be published at the beginning of April.

The writers’ group have made the plays available on a dedicated web site at www .one-act-plays.co.uk . "We want to see the plays performed in Slough because they reflect the history, diversity and excitement of the town," said Michael Pearcy who is helping to promote the plays. "They are written for radio so they are ideal for readings in offices, schools or even shopping centres. The diversity of subjects would also make a very entertaining evening in a theatre in the town."

Slough Writers welcome new members to any of their Monday meetings at The Greyhound pub in Eton Wick. Information about performing the plays is available from Michael Pearcy via the dedicated web site or on 01628 666291.