On 30 August 2009 one of Waterfront Writers founding members, long time Secretary and always active member Jan Crocker died.

Although we all knew that the day was coming her demise left us floundering. Her abscence from our Friday afternoon meetings has taken a long time to adjust to. When our then Chairman Terry Telford suggested an annual cup in her name we all agreed that it would be a great way to commemerate her.

Jan had a love of words, words of poetry or story, playing with alliteration's and homophone's, words of humour. Although people diagnosed with her particular terminal cancer don't normally last beyond two years, Jan lasted seven. But she was more than 'the lady with cancer' as those who met her will always remember. She was optimistic, encouraging, interested in life and any critism on someone's reading of their work given in a constructive way, and she tried to live in the Now.

The Cup is in recognition of the funny side of Jan and her poetry and prose. In 2010 all entries were to be poetry and in 2011 they will be prose, the category is always to be amusing, witty, fun.

2010 Winning entry.

NURSERY FARM
by Joan Bryant

The sheep are all in lamb
And the shippen's full of sheep:
Once the shippen's loud with lambs
I'll be one up on Bo-peep.

The heifers are in calf -
They'll be in labour soon:
When the cowshed heaves with calves
I'll jump right over the moon.

The sows are ready to farrow:
Once the barn's honeycomb
Of pens overflows with piglets
I'll "we-hee" all the way home.

The white brood mare is restless,
So into the stable she goes:
When she has dropped her foal
I'll dance with bells on my toes.

The sheepdog's ready to whelp:
Once her kennel's overrun
With tumbling, squealing puppies,
I'll laugh to see such fun.

The cat is ready to kindle
Upon the kitchen mat:
When she litters the kitchen with kittens,
It's a queen I'll be looking at.

The farm is breeding and teeming:
We're always on the go.
Macdonald and I are weary:
Ee-i ee-i o.