The First Line
Run from donated funds to the memory of Roland Manuel
The RoM Prize 2025
"The First Line"
An inclusive and creative space for true Bognorians
The prize, awarded in conjunction with the Blake Cottage Trust, is in memory of Roland Bonham Manuel whose private sketches and notes embody the vitality and freedom of the imagination.
William Blake's notebook is held in the British Library and is full of sketches and ideas serving as sources for his later work.
We are looking for a piece, created traditionally not digitally, which embodies the freedom and self expression of a private sketch book. We want a piece that is not highly polished and finished, but free and expressive. This Prize is open to everyone - if you loved Art at school or college, but work and family took you in a different direction, we'd love to encourage you to take this chance to pick up that pencil again.
Sketches can be in any traditional medium, in colour, line or tonal (as you prefer) and on paper. Entries must be submitted in the form of an unfiltered photograph taken in good light, in a setting of your choice. We'd love to see your choice drawing tools included in the photograph too, but this is optional. Digital art will not be considered; in this age of screens and digital manipulation, we are keen to use this prize to celebrate what is real and tangible, and to appreciate the different qualities of different traditional drawing materials.
Whilst entry and shortlisting is online we would hope that most of our short-listed sketches can be exhibited near the location of Blake's Cottage in Felpham where William Blake lived.
The Competition - Rules
- Free to enter
- First Line RoM Prize £700
- Bognor Schools RoM sketch £200 (Under 18)
- All entries should be submitted as JPEG's through email blakefestival@gmail.com or via the entry form.
- From individuals who if short-listed will provide a valid name, address, email (and age if under 18, as of 22/9/2025).
- School’s Prize is open to Bognor Pupils 12- 18 or with a PO21 or PO22 residential address.
- Deadline for Entries 30 July 2025
A bit about Ro
Roland, who was diagnosed with Plasma Cell Leukemia and Myeloma, died on August 30, after living with Plasma Cell Leukemia and Myeloma for several years.
He credited Worthing Art School as giving him an education for life and sketching whether technical sound installations or for pleasure he continued to do to the end from his hospital bed.
He is survived by family members, his brother Patrick and his partner Rachel, who told the Bognor Regis Observer of his unquenchable thirst for life and his profound effect on the people he loved.
He was first diagnosed with Leukemia in 2013 and returned to Judo determined to make an impact, having been largely off the mats since 1996. Over the years to follow, he’d win a raft of major medals, including Silver at Wycombe Masters in 2015, Silver at the National Masters in Edinburgh in 2016, Gold at the High Wycombe Championships 2017 and Bronze at the Commonwealth Games in 2019 – all impressive achievements which, combined with his love of climbing, spoke to Roland’s determination to make the most of every second he had.
“Roland called Judo his therapy,” his partner Rachel said. “When his feet got on the mats, he could switch everything else off and just focus on Judo. It was a powerful antidote for him . He’d have blood transfusions and drive to Portsmouth, climb for an hour or two, then drive to Gosport and help teach Judo. He just had this incredible energy; he was so 100 per cent about everything, and it really inspired all of us who were closely connected with him.”
Lighting Engineer Simon Horn wants him to be remembered not only as an incredible friend, but also as a role model within the industry for his unwavering support of emerging talent. "There should be more people like him in the industry that just take a chance on people that knock on the door," says Horn. "He did that with me and numerous other people that just came along; he gave them the opportunity to learn with absolutely no discrimination. He was a truly wonderful man."