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7th September 2008

Wales Book Award defended over error

04.07.08

The organisers of the Wales Book of the Year have defended the event after the wrong winner was announced during the award ceremony, reports BBC Online. Author Tom Bullough said the event was "amateur" after culture minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas mistakenly named him as the recipient of the £10,000 prize.

He also said it had been a "national embarrassment". But Academi said the mistake was "human error" and the minister had apologised to him and winner Dannie Abse.

The minister was presenting the award for literature promotion agency Academi at the Hilton Hotel, Cardiff, on Tuesday, when he announced Bullough's name.

The young novelist had almost reached the stage to collect the cheque amid the applause of the audience when it was announced that a mistake had been made, and that the actual winner was the veteran poet.

BBC

Book Prize Wales Book of the Year Wales Dannie Abse

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