A well-versed Coatbridge schoolgirl captured the hearts and minds of judges at a prestigious literary contest.
Molly Jane O’Reilly beat 110,000 other entrants to take her impressive place in the final 25 of the 10-to-13 age group of BBC Radio 2’s 500 Words competition.
Molly is a second-year pupil at St Ambrose High. Her beautiful and touching poem The Problem with Being Invisible won her a chance to follow in the footsteps of royalty during a special showcase event at Windsor Castle.
Her superb success also saw her rub shoulders with the stars, including television personality and author David Walliams and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville.
A St Ambrose High spokesperson said: “Molly Jane’s wonderful poem beat 110,000 other entries to reach the final 25.
“She thoroughly enjoyed being part of such a prestigious competition at Windsor Castle; and getting the chance to meet famous faces.
“Everyone at the school and in our community is very proud of Molly Jane and offer our congratulations to such a well-deserved, and truly talented, finalist.
Click here for more from Monklands
“Well done Molly Jane; she is a true inspiration.”
With entries once again flooding into the competition – celebrating its ninth year – 500 Words is one of the most successful story-writing contests for young writers in the world and open to every five-to-13-year-old in Britain.
