2010 Phil Llewellin Award Winner Announced
Serena surfs top prize
A 13-year-old schoolgirl with a passion for old Volkswagen Transporter camper vans has won £1,000 worth of travel vouchers in a Midlands' writing competition.
Serena Gough, from Post Office Lane in Moreton, near Newport in Shropshire imagined herself taking a holiday in one of the original VW vans to the surfing beaches of Cornwall, where lots of surfers actually live in similar vehicles.
Her 500 word story was one of a record number submitted to this year's competition held annually to honour the late Phil Llewellin, who lived near Ellesmere in Shropshire and was one of the world's best known motoring writers.
It is organised by the Midland Group of Motoring Writers, of which Phil was a member for many years before his death in 2005, and combines Phil's love of motoring and travel. Entrants, aged 10 to 16, are asked to imagine their favourite vehicle and the journey they would take in it.
Midland Group chairman Ian Donaldson said: "We had the biggest ever entry this year and there were lots of great stories. In the end, Serena's fresh light-touch approach and mix of machine and travel won the judges over."
Serena, who admits she is not especially interested in cars, has developed a passion for the iconic older VW Transporter vans and has amassed a collection of models of the vehicles, from biscuit tins to clocks, all in the familiar shape.
Serena, a pupil at Newport Girls' High School, said: "I've always loved the look of these old Volkswagens and enjoyed collecting models of them from all over the place.".jpg)
She now has to plan a holiday with parents Colin and Valerie to spend her travel vouchers prize, with a trip to the Continent a possibility.
Serena's other prizes are a week's loan of a new Audi to her parents, a visit to the Aston Martin factory at Gaydon in Warwickshire with a passenger ride in one of the cars, and the chance to take an hour's driving lesson with an expert instructor in the safety of the private track at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey.
Serena's mum Valerie said: "I think the chance of having a drive may be the best bit of the prize for her!"
Mum will be doing the driving when the Audi arrives for its week with the family; Serena's prizewinning entry had Johnny Depp at the wheel for her fantasy VW drive.