Lisburn News

Knockmore pupils scoop top letter prizes

Jack Malcolm and Megan McNeill, with postman Liam Redman, principal Mrs. Sharon Shanon and Lisburn Delivery Office, Manager Davy Mack.

TWO pupils from Knockmore Primary School have been crowned winners of the Northern Ireland heat of the Royal Man Young Letter Writer competition.

The annual competition, now in its 36 year, aims to recognise the nation's best young letter writers and encourage children to be creative through letter writing and in the countdown to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, children were asked to write about what the Olympics mean to them.

Jack Malcolm won the overall Northern Ireland heat impressing the judges with his description of Usain Bolt playing cricket as a child using an orange for the ball and banana trees for the stumps.
Jack will receive a £100 postal order and a selection of Royal Mail stamps and stationery. His letter will also go forward to the national final, to be judged by Sally Gunnell, and the chance to win an all expenses paid weekend in London for four people including £200 spending money.

Megan McNeill won the special achievement prize in Northern Ireland. The judges loved her clear enthusiasm for swimming and her ambition to swim with dolphins.

Megan wins £25 in vouchers and a selection of Royal Mail stamps and stationary.

Lisburn Delivery Office Manager, David Mack, said: "I was very impressed with the creativity and imagination of Jack and Megan's letters. Excitement is building about the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and this was evident from all the entries we received. Entries had to follow the basic letter format, but we didn't expect letters to be perfect and of course we took children's ages into consideration."

The competition was open to all children aged between 7 and 11, with a Special Achievement award, for children who overcame particular difficulties to enter.

The national winner's letter will be entered into the Universal Postal Union's international Olympic letter writing competition 2012.

julieann.spence@ulsterstar.co.uk

Ulster Star
16/03/2012