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Stamford: Malcolm Sargent pupil Lola wins third place in BBC Radio 2 500 Words competition with story about a fly




An imaginative tale about a fly has bagged a schoolgirl third place in a national BBC writing competition.

Lola Butler, aged 10, was inspired to pen her story ‘Shoo!’ after coming across one of the dead insects and examining it under a microscope in her Stamford home.

She has now entered the BBC Radio 2 500 Words competition four times so was over the moon to receive a call from presenter Zoe Ball live on air.

Lola Butler, 10, came third in a BBC Radio 2 writing competition
Lola Butler, 10, came third in a BBC Radio 2 writing competition

“I was so excited I was speechless!” said Lola, who attends Malcolm Sargent Primary School. “We just couldn’t believe it.”

Lola’s story - which has a twist in the tale - is about a fly named Ozzie who has just graduated from The Bluebottle Academy and goes on to terrorise a group of picnickers.

She was due to collect her prize at Buckingham Palace but unfortunately the coronavirus lockdown scuppered the plan.

Instead, the winners and finalists celebrated in a virtual Zoom party attended by special guests including Zoe Ball, David Walliams, and Dick and Dom.

Oti Mabuse hosted a surprise dance work-out, The Bolds’ illustrator David Roberts led a live art session, and Gareth Malone conducted the group in a rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Lola, who was up against more than 134,000 other aspiring writers, will receive a specially illustrated version of her story as well as her height in books.

“It was amazing,” said mum Rachel. “We’re so proud of her. The whole time we were trying to manage her expectations as she kept getting through the next round. Then when the call came through it was just amazing.”

Lola is due to start a music scholarship at Stamford High School in September and says she will carry on writing both stories and songs.

Check out Lola's story 'Shoo!' here.



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