#AmazingAccrington Magazine - Summer Edition 2024

LEGENDARY ACCRINGTONIAN Julie Hesmondhalgh creates writing trail voiced by top actors Actor Julie Hesmondhalgh is passionate about encouraging creative writing, and in conjunction with Amazing Accrington decided to launch a Winter Writing Trail competition in Accrington. Local primary and secondary school children were invited to take part in a creative writing competition, to write a story or poem up to 300-words, on the theme of winter or Christmas.

Winter writing trail...

Entries flooded in, and Julie personally went through hundreds of stories before selecting 15 winning entries, who won a £50 cash prize which was handed out on stage at the Accrington Light Switch On. 11 further entries were submitted by professional writers and actors, with some outstanding names including local author Jeanette Winterson CBE. These fantastic stories were displayed in shop windows around Accrington centre. The large window displays also contained a QR code, leading to names such as Jodie Whittaker, Suranne Jones, Toby Jones, Steve Pemberton, Sally Dynevor, Sally Carman-Duttine, Tupele Dorgu, Jennie McAlpine, Dominic Brunt, Katherine Kelly,

Muzz Khan, Mina Anwar, Joe Duttine, Jason Watkins, Joe Alessi, Dave Swann, Martin Cooper, David Hesmondhalgh, Ian Kershaw, Rosie Adamson-Clark, Connor Evans and Julie herself. The stories and audio or video files can also be found on the Amazing Accrington website: www.amazingaccrington.co.uk Julie Hesmondhalgh said at the launch: “I am so excited to be working on this wonderful initiative here in my hometown of Accrington, it is fantastic to see all the community getting involved and both writing and thinking creatively.

coming together, and to involve local businesses as part of the competition trail leading up to Christmas is just incredible.” The Winter Writing Trail was sponsored by Hyndburn Borough Council and Creative Lancashire. To see more about the Winter Writing Trail, please visit: www.amazingaccrington.co.uk or you can view the video here by scanning the QR code.

“It will also be great to see the work of professional writers and our local students

Julie Hesmondhalgh x

Opposite: Actor Julie Hesmondhalgh launched a Winter Writing Trail in Accrington. Above: Emmerdale’s Paddy played by Dominic Brunt was part of the Accrington Winter Writing Trail.

#AmazingAccrington Summer 2024 17