A NOSTALGIC journey down memory lane has seen a Hexham writer take the top spot in a national competition.

Maggie Davison’s poignant piece of writing about her family ties to Holy Island was awarded first place in the Benchmark Writing Competition.

The competition was a collaboration between Stocksfield writer Rachael Cochrane and the Willow Burn Hospice in County Durham.

Inspired by a radio play written by Rachel, it sought to break the taboo surrounding death and celebrate life.

Rachel said: “The Benchmark theme was influenced by memory plaques on benches.

“But instead of thinking about death, we asked people to consider the good things about their lives and what a plaque might say about them as they are now and where would be the ideal place to put their bench.”

Opened up to the nation, the contest attracted 76 entries from Scotland to Cornwall, which were anonymously assessed by readers and judges including Bishop Auckland writer Wendy Robertson and Dr Philip Le Dune, a GP with an interest in palliative care.

And for winner Maggie, her chosen destination of looking out to sea at Holy Island had a very special resonance.

After looking into her family history, she discovered that a distant aunt moved her family to the remote island in 1840.

She said: “I have fond memories of travelling to Holy Island as a child in the 1960s.

“I loved driving over the sand to get to the island, before the causeway was built.

“And discovering another connection gave the story an extra layer.”

Maggie’s prize was an oak bench, donated by Solid Oak Hardwood Furniture, along with her personalised plaque, donated by Faith & Gould and engraved by Victory Signs of Cramlington.

Her plaque reads: “Dedicated to Maggie who always sees the far shore and tries to walk over rocks and swim against the tide to reach it.”

Maggie has chosen to place her bench in her Hexham garden, in a spot which will catch the evening sun.

To read the winning entries visit http://www.rachelcochrane.com/portfolio-item/benchmark-comp-project