Former Oakbank School head teacher John Roberts has won the Airedale Writers’ Circle challenge cup for the second year running. The judge of this year’s adult competition, author Stephen Wade, said Mr Roberts’s article “Grandfather Time” had “echoes of classic writing in the genre”.

Results in the competition, which were announced at the circle’s Christmas party, were: Poetry: Bruce Barnes — “Pocket”; runner-up Florence Remmer — “Pity Poor Bradford”; highly commended Alan Cowling — “Someone else’s love song”. Articles: John Roberts — “Grandfather Time”; runner-up John Roberts — “Hirta”; highly commended Alan Cowling — “Testing Times”; commended: Sylvia Jolly — “Freedom”. Short stories: Muriel Williamson — “The Pefect Mother”; runner-up John Roberts — “You have to Work at a Relationship”; highly commended Peter Morrison — “Stop and Examine”; highly commended Gillian Herbert — “Just Another Day”; commended Andy Garner — “A never ending story”.