TELEVISION broadcaster Martyn Lewis today urged Evening Press readers to provide the reading for a major carol service at York Minster next month.
He encouraged people to pen something - or otherwise nominate a favourite poem or piece of writing by someone else - summing up the spirit of Christmas.
A celebrity will read out the winning entry during the Favourite Carols For All service, which is being held at the Minster on December 14 by United Response, a national charity which supports people with learning disabilities and mental health problems.
The Yorkshire's Favourite Reading competition is being organised by the charity in conjunction with the Evening Press and BBC Radio York.
Mr Lewis will head a panel of judges to select the winning entry, which will include the paper's deputy editor Bill Hearld and Radio York presenter Elly Fiorentini.
Organisers said the competition was open to everyone, young and old. "People can enter something they have written themselves, or choose a poem or a piece of writing which they particularly enjoy. As long as it's Christmassy, it stands a chance of winning," said a spokeswoman.
Mr Lewis stressed that people did not have to be experienced writers or poets to take part.
"What we are looking for is what Christmas means to people - perhaps about something that has happened to them or their family at Christmas in the past.
"It doesn't necessarily have to be gushing, and full of fine sentiment. It may be about someone that has had a tough time at Christmas, or it could reflect that Christmas can be quite a lonely time."
He said the Minster, which is hosting United Response's third community carol service this year, was an "incredible setting" for the service, with more than 1,000 people from all over the region turning up at the event in previous years.
Entries to the competition should be no more than 200 words long and must be submitted by November 30.
They can be sent to: Martyn Lewis, c/o United Response, 113/123 Upper Richmond Road, Putney, London SW15 2TL, or emailed to: info@unitedresponse.org.uk
All entries should include a name, address and daytime telephone number.
More information can be found on the United Response website www.unitedresponse.org.uk
Updated: 08:44 Wednesday, November 10, 2004
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