THE Malvern Gazette 25 years ago reported that David Mitchell,of the upper sixth at Hanley Castle High School, has won one of 25 certificates of merit in the Young Observer national poetry competition, in the 15-18 age group.
His poem The Dragonfly was one of over 70,000 entries, and it was David's second Observer success. His entry in a human rights essay contest was also a winner and got published in the newspaper's colour supplement.
Mr Mitchell is now of course a well-known author, whose novels, number9dream and Cloud Atlas were both shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
His 2006 novel, Black Swan Green, draws heavily on his memories of growing up in the Malvern area, and his most recent work is The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, published last year.
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