Graham S Brand Award – 2018

Many congratulations to Joe Hockley who is year’s winner of the Graham S Brand Award.  The award is given every autumn in memory of Graham S. Brand, a much-loved former student of the University and my late writing partner.  It goes to the student on the University of Westminster’s Media Course who is judged to have written and directed the best radio feature in each year’s radio module.

Mrs Brand, Graham’s mother, and I visited the University on Friday 28th September 2018 to present the award and talk to the second year students who are in with a chance of winning it next year.  Mrs Brand spoke movingly about Graham and his happy time at the university on his Media Studies degree.  I gave an illustrated talk to the second year about writing and in particular the making of our new graphic novel, Illegal.  The students had lots of questions for us both.

 

This year’s winning entry was a ten minute radio feature by Joe Hockley entitled “Life for Young Actors in London.” It was a fascinating piece detailing the lives of three young people each trying to break into acting while doing any job that comes along just to survive and keep going.

Described as:  “Cue: Living a life full of glamour and riches as an actor in London is a myth. Young actors in London have to deal with cash in hand jobs, busy work schedules and and unsuccessful auditions just to give themselves a faint bit of hope of becoming successful. Joe Hockley visited a group of young theater grafters to see what life really is like for our young actors.”

Many congratulations to Joe from myself and Mrs Brand for a great piece of radio and for winning the Graham S Brand Award.

Thanks as always to radio course leader, Dr Matthew Linfoot, who so kindly organises the award each year.  This was the 23rd year running that the award has been presented.