Creative use of poppies led to prizes for pupils who participated in competitions marking the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion. Boston Group supported a challenge to design the poster that will be used to advertise the 11/11/11 gala concert at the Villa Marina – the pinnacle of the Legion’s year of celebrations. The winning poster was designed by Christopher Whiting, a student at King William’s College, who took the honours in the Key Stage 3 category. His computer-generated designed cleverly spelled out 90 in as many poppies. Foundation/Key Stage 1 winner Aimee Corrin, of Scoill Vallajeelt, painted a poppy against the background of a bright blue sky. Rania Gomaa, also of Scoill Vallajeelt, won the Key Stage 2 prize for a more abstract poppy design. Bridget Bale, of Queen Elizabeth II High School, won the Key Stage 4 prize for her computer-drawn image of a World War I soldier. All four students win vouchers to spend in their favourite shops. Greg Ellison, CEO, and Ruth Robinson, of Boston Group, judged the competition with Major Charles Wilson, 90th Events Organiser for the Royal British Legion, and Roger and Gwen Watterson, of The Copy Shop, which will produce the posters. Mr Ellison said: ‘Thas been a fantastic competition to be involved with and we had a tremendously difficult job selecting the winners. The standard of work was excellent from all the age groups. It was great to see such an overwhelming response and I look forward to seeing the winner’s hard work displayed all over the island on the adverts for the 11/11/11 concert.’ In challenges supported by Scottish Widows, pupils were invited to pen poems inspired by poppies and the theme of remembrance and create unique ‘school’ works of art with poppies as the theme. Rachel Frankwick, who is in Year 8 at Castle Rushen High School, will be invited to read out her poem, ‘I am a Poppy’, at the 11/11/11 concert after it was selected from among many moving entries by Major Wilson and Nigel Kennett, Investment Operations Manager at Scottish Widows. Rachel won the Key Stage 3 first prize, with fellow CRHS students Megan Howland and Rachel Staniford second and third. Laxey Primary pupils Megan Killip, Zosia Anscomb and Samantha Hassall were first, second and third in Key Stage 2. All six win book tokens and will have their poems printed in the concert programme. Patchwork collages created by students in Years 7 and 8 at Ballakermeen High School were picked as overall winners of the art competition, having won the Key Stage 3 prize. An innovative large-scale waving created by Key Stage 2 pupils at Scoill Vallajeelt using different coloured supermarket carrier bags to mark out fields, hills and sky, won that section. In Foundation/Key Stage 1, the winners were reception class pupils at Ballacottier Primary, who painted and glittered coloured paper which was then cut into squares and had a mosaic effect when mounted. Vallajeelt Year 1 pupil Lucy Brown also won a prize for her bold, glittery poppy – a favourite with all the judges. The winners receive vouchers for art materials. Mr Kennett said: ‘The challenge to select the winners from a large number of quality entries was difficult. The detailed knowledge of important historical events evidenced in the paintings and poems of the young artists and poets was impressive. The talent of the competitors was also demonstrated in a diversity of approach, from heartfelt poignancy to whimsical and subtle. All young people who took the time to research and complete an entry should be proud of their contribution to raising awareness of the important work of the Royal British Legion.’ The competitions formed part of a menu of activities rolled out to schools to mark the Legion’s landmark. Many of the entries will be displayed at the Villa Marina on the evening of the concert. Major Wilson said: ‘On behalf of the Royal British Legion, I would like to thank our sponsors Scottish Widows and Boston Group for their support. We were most impressed by the imagination and flair shown by participants, illustrating a keen appreciation of both the historical and current aspects of the Legion’s work. Many of the entries were poignant. Our young people are acutely aware of the suffering, waste and human tragedy of warfare.’ Eddie Teare, Minister for Education and Children, said: ‘A lot of thought and research went into the posters, poems and poppy art. We have some immensely talented young people. The judges had an unenviable task to select winners from the hundreds of entries. I’d like to thank Boston Group and Scottish Widows for helping us to raise awareness in schools of the invaluable work, past, present and future, of the Royal British Legion.’ All schools that took part will receive a commemorative certificate from the Royal British Legion and the two supporters. Ends