Prize winner pulls out of Big Read after heart attack

8:30am Sunday 26th October 2008

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BRIDPORT Prize winner Graham Mort has been forced to pull out of the town’s Big Read event after suffering a major heart attack.

Mr Mort, who won last year’s prize with his short story The Prince, is now recovering from heart bypass surgery said he was sorry he had to cancel the November 7 event.

He had been due to close the Big Read with a question and answer session with readers.

Lindsay Brooks, director of Bridport Arts Centre which is hosting the literary competition, said that, although he will now not be able to make it, it will still take place.

She added readers would still be invited to meet and discuss The Prince with short story writers on the day at the centre.

She added: “Graham’s sudden illness was a shock, but we have been able to talk to him since his operation and, although in pain still, is on the road to recovery.”

“He’s intrigued to know what Bridport people make of his story so we’re looking forward to sending him feedback from everyone after the Big Read month is over.”

Mr Mort’s wife Maggie said: “Graham has had a major operation – a quadruple heart bypass – but is coming through like a trooper.

“We are both sad we cannot make it to Bridport for this terrific extension of the Bridport Prize. We were looking forward to meeting the participants of the Big Read.”

Mr Mort was also due to lead a writing workshop the same afternoon, for which participants have to book.

Bridport Prize organiser Frances Everitt said this will also still go ahead and details of which writer will lead it will be announced next week. Graham Mort lives in North Yorkshire and lectures in Creative Writing at Lancaster University where he directs the Centre for Transcultural Writing and Research.

He has published eight books of poetry and won a number of literary prizes for his work. His short stories have appeared in many anthologies and literary magazines.

Students at the Sir John Colfox School have also been joining in with reading The Prince.

Alison Batchelor, the school’s assistant librarian said: “I have been running sessions for all the year groups – children as young as 11 years old as well as sixth formers have been reading the story, including those who struggle with reading.

“There has been an amazingly positive response, despite the difficult emotional content.

The students have been very impressed by how beautifully the story is written and have particularly enjoyed the descriptive language.”

Alison and several sixth form students will attend the question and answer session on November 7 armed with their probing questions.

Ms Everitt said: “Along with the Colfox students, a wide range of people have picked up the short story to read and discuss – from patients at Bridport Medical Centre to offenders at Portland Young Offenders Institution.

You can pick up a copy of The Prince from Bridport Arts Centre, The Bookshop in South Street and the library.

l For more details on the Big Read events contact Bridport Arts Centre on 01308 427183.