Artists from Chilton Primary in Ramsgate have designed this year’s Christmas card for the town’s MP Polly Billington.
The school’s entries impressed judges and the colourful designs with a thoughtful eco message are being delivered on behalf of the MP to businesses around the town, local organisations, friends and her colleagues at Westminster.
Otis won the under 7s category with a design that highlights the problems of fly-tipping. Year 2 pupil Mable from Ramsgate Arts Primary – one of Chilton’s partner schools in the Viking Academy Trust – and Jacob from Priory Infant School both secured runner up awards.
The Under 11s prize was won by James from Chilton Primary School, with a card featuring Kent’s seal colony and a message about reducing plastic pollution and cleaning up our oceans. Yasmin and Sasha, both also from Chilton Primary, received runner up awards.
The competition was judged by Polly Billington MP, the artist Bob and Roberta Smith, and James Lawson, chair of Ramsgate Football Club. The competition was sponsored by Ramsgate Football Club, who also provided merchandise as prizes to the winning children.
Deputy Head of School at Chilton, Hannah Cheshire, said: “The standard of entries was very high with schools around the town taking part contributing more than 100 designs.
“We are very proud that our Chilton young artists have performed so well – it is thrilling for them and the school that their lovely work will be seen by so many people around the town and beyond.
“All children received a gift of a Ramsgate Football Club red and white scarf and hat that Polly herself delivered, which was a lovely touch.”
Polly took to social media to highlight the success of the competition. She wrote: “I was bowled over by the talent and creativity of the young artists who entered the competition this year.
“Children had clearly thought long and hard about how to appeal to the judge’s interests – with entries featuring cats and Ramsgate Harbour among those that really caught my eye!
“However, the cards that really stuck out for the judging panel were those that combined festive fun with a serious message about protecting our natural environment, which is so important to us all living by the seaside.
“I want to congratulate the winners and all the children who took part, and wish everyone in East Thanet a merry Christmas and a happy new year.”
James Lawson, Chair of Ramsgate Football Club, said: “It was an honour to be asked to help judge Polly’s Christmas card competition on behalf of Ramsgate Football Club. The quality of entries was extremely high, meaning the judges were faced with a really tough task in picking our winners, but the winning cards are absolutely fantastic.
“I hope our winners are enjoying their Ramsgate Football Club hats and scarves, and I want to wish everyone in Ramsgate a very merry Christmas.”
How lovely!
She will do anything for a photo in the news
It’s Christmas and it’s children so leave it at that.
Maybe it is self-promoting, but it gave my daughter and a bunch of other little kids something to get excited about. Polly came to the school when she launched the competition to talk about her role in the government so it was also a learning experience. My daughter’s design didn’t win a prize but the thought of getting her drawing on a card that would be sent all over the country and to various dignitaries was very motivating for her. Thanks for running the competition Polly and to IOTN for giving the winners their proud moment.
I’m no big fan of her, but anything that makes kids feel a bit special (especially at this time of year) is fine by me.
Wont actually stand up for anything that really matters though will you Polly
I’m beginning to agree with you Mark! I asked her for advice and she made a suggestion as to how I could make a complaint against a government department. After filling in 17 pages of a Complaint Form she sent me, I returned it to her so she could pass it on to the agency that would investigate it, but she renegaded on it, and made me a person non grata! Watch this space!
My Christmas card to absentee Billington reads… Merry Christmas. Jesus loves you, everyone else thinks you’re a….!