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The Jim Clark Memorial Trophy

An inter-schools writing competition was introduced in February 1995 by the vocational services committee, which was chaired by Bill Henderson, a past president who has now moved to Anstruther.

In June that year, Norman Middleton, our current President, generously provided a shield for presentation annually on a youth challenge basis. This challenge could be a different topic/subject every year. In July 1996 the Council decided that the Inter-Schools Trophy should be named the Jim Clark Memorial Trophy. Jim Clark, who died in October 1995, besides being a very active Rotarian and a founder member of the Deacon's Court, was a Convener of West Lothian Council and a JP.

The trophy has gained in strength over the years. It is open to all pupils in Primary 7 and each entry must be the pupil's own unaided work. The pupil with the winning entry is given a prize of £25 and a framed certificate. The pupil's school holds the Jim Clark Memorial Trophy for one year and receives £100 towards school funds and a framed certificate. Further, the pupil with the best entry in each of the other schools is given a prize of £10 and a certificate.

The winning entry for 2005/06 was from Jade McMeechan of Linlithgow Bridge Primary School (P7) :-

Make a Difference

I am Bill and I would like to tell you my story. I am thirty years old and I live on Cherry Farm. I have brown hair and I'm chubby.
I was once a bad burglar but now I have changed and I will tell you why.
My story begins fourteen years ago when I was sixteen. I remember my old, nasty friends in the gang that I used to hang around with. Their names were Pat, Ronald, Danny, Dennis and Moi. Everyday we used to go to the shop where my mates kept the shopkeeper busy whilst I stole the beer. We also jumped over peoples back garden fences and pulled the wet clothes off the clothes line. However one night something happened that changed all that. One dark night it was so foggy it was like going through ~ tunnel under the ground with no lights on. It was also windy and snowy. The snow was up to my knees. I was breaking into a house with no lights on and I came in though the window with a big bang and landed on my knees. It looked like an old lady’s house because she had a dress hanging on the bedroom door and there was a smell of old perfume. I stole some earings and jewellery. I went downstairs and saw a dark, creepy shadow in the kitchen. Then I heard a soft, gentle voice whispering, “Who is there? Help me please.”
Lying shivering on the kitchen floor was a poor old lady. I helped her up and phoned for an ambulance. The ambulance arrived and took the lady away to hospital and then I began to feel terrible. I was stealing from a poor sick old lady. I decided to put back the things which I had stolen.The next day I couldn’t help thinking about the old lady so I phoned the hospital to see if she was ok. I had some money so I went to the shop and bought a “Get well soon” card and some flowers.That afternoon I went to the hospital to visit her. She was feeling a lot better.The old lady asked me why I had been in her house. “I was stealing things,” I told her.
“I don’t know what to do I know I’ve been so bad.” “Well maybe you could give back all of the stuff which you have stolen.”
“Great idea, thanks a lot.”
“But I’ve got a problem as well. I’m old and I can’t go to the shop and I can only do a little bit of cleaning. I need someone to look after ~
“I’ve got an idea. I’m good at cleaning and cooking. Maybe I can help you.”
“You are very kind.”
“Do you like jam sandwiches.”
“I love jam sandwiches.”
“I will bring them on Tuesday and Thursday.”
“You can come everyday if you want but you don’t need to come and do work on Saturday and Sunday because my cleaner comes to look after me.”
“I’ll come and visit you anyway.”
So from that day on I have visited Maria everyday and taken food, sweets and treats. I also help her with the housework and dig her garden for her.
I have a job now. I am a gardener and love to help old folk especially. I am no longer friends with the old gang. A lot of them went to prison. I have lots of new friends and am happy that I made a difference to an old lady and then she made a difference to me.

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