A budding young writer from Harrogate has picked up a prestigious award at the Ilkley Literary Festival.
A budding young writer from Harrogate has picked up a prestigious award at the Ilkley Literary Festival.
17-year-old Elizabeth-Rose Sandhu, who is a pupil at Harrogate Ladies' College, penned a poem inspired by her love of nature.
And her work was recognised in the Young Writers’ Competition at Ilkley Literary Festival - the longest-running literature festival in the north.
Elizabeth-Rose dreams of becoming a head teacher and plans to study English Literature at Edinburgh University.
She said:"I wrote the poem about sunflowers because it was at a time when they were in season and I was thinking about their magic.
"I write poetry when I am in the mood for it and it’s something I love to do.
"I was really surprised to receive an email saying I’d won, but also really happy because I had achieved something for me."
Elizabeth-Rose's passion for English Literature was sparked by teachers at Harrogate Ladies’ College who have helped develop her love of Sylvia Plath and the Bronte sisters.
And the 17-year-old, who boards at the school on Clarence Road, said her own head teacher Mrs Sylvia Brett was the inspiration for her desire to teach.
She added:"I adore the school and all the support we get from our teachers and it made me think it’s something I’d like to do and I will continue with my writing."
The school is planning a number of trips for literary students this year, including a trip to Wordsworth’s Lake District and the Bronte’s home in Haworth.
Principal Sylvia Brett said Elizabeth-Rose had a talent for writing which shone through her work:
"Elizabeth-Rose shows enormous promise as a writer and she shows great aspiration for her future in the world of literature."
The 2021 Ilkley Literary Festival is due to get underway next month.
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