Member Article

Schoolgirl’s Phone Story Reveals Meaning of Christmas

As we hurtle towards the most tech-influenced Christmas ever, with web spending set to top the £11bn spent online in December 2013, it has taken a Manchester schoolgirl to remind grown-ups of the true meaning of Christmas.

11-year-old Hannah Lillis’s winning story in a festive writing competition is a simple and stark reminder to time-pushed parents that all their children want this Christmas is love and attention.

Hannah, from Grafton House Primary School in Ashton under Lyne, penned the short story ‘A Christmas Message’ in just an hour. In it, she bemoans the fact that her parents are both too absorbed by their smartphones every waking moment to let any Christmas spirit flourish in their house. So in frustration she hides their phone chargers, only giving them back on Christmas Day after the family have all remembered how to enjoy quality time together.

Hannah, who has won £500 for her school as a result of winning the cartridgesave.co.uk-backed competition, says: “My mum and dad are nowhere near as bad as the parents in my story, although they do spend a lot of time on their phones! I like it best when we all get to spend time together with no distractions, which is where I got the idea from for the story.”

Hannah’s mum Caroline, a sales manager for Next, adds: “I’m really proud of Hannah’s writing, although I’m glad that she’s said I’m not as bad as the mum in the story. I’m sure there’s not a parent who doesn’t check their Facebook, answer emails or send texts when they are meant to be giving full attention to their children. However, phones are banned from now on in our house after reading Hannah’s story!”

A Christmas Message was a clear favourite with the judges, who included representatives of sponsorcartridgesave.co.uk and popular children’s author Sam Hay. Sam says: “In among the hundreds of wildly imaginative entries that I read, Hannah’s story was unusual and poignant. The message was short and punchy and really powerful in the way it used a modern affliction many parents are guilty of – myself included - to remind us of simpler, happier times. I loved it!”

In the competition’s separate age categories, there were two further winners. In the 4-6 year old category, Angharad Turner, 5, won with her story Christmas Boy. Angharad, who attends BlueCoat Primary School, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, wowed the judges with her festive tale of a magic experiment in North Pole Primary School and how a boy called Sam Christmas landed a new role.

Sam Hay comments: “This story hooked me from its brilliant first line. It is a great concept and made me smile, a lot!”

In the 7-9 year old category, Sam Perkins, 7, who attends Bramhope Primary School, Leeds, took the honours for his story Sky Guy And Santa, a tale of adventure featuring Santa’s reindeer and the inflatable wobbly man from the local car wash. Judge Sam Hay comments: “This is written in a punchy style that keeps you wanting to know more. It’s a great story that really shows off the imagination and creativity of its writer.”

All three winners receive festive goodie bags worth £50 each, plus £500 for their schools to put towards creative materials.

Ian Cowley, managing director of cartridgesave.co.uk, comments: “We have been bowled over by the quality of the stories and the imagination of the children and want to thank everyone who took part. The collection of stories in the e-book will make great bedtime story reading for Christmas time and beyond!”

In addition, the top 50 entries selected by the judges are available in a beautifully designed free to download e-book. To download a copy, go to www.cartridgesave.co.uk/writechristmas

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Cartridge Save .