Bow Community Primary School pupil Joseph Charlesworth (9) has received a prize from his local MP Mel Stride for winning the competition to design his 2022 Christmas Card. The Member of Parliament, who sends more than a thousand Christmas Cards each year to family, friends, colleagues and local organisations he has visited during the previous 12 months, visited the school to award Joseph with a box of art supplies and book token during a school assembly. The competition for 2022 was open to the 43 primary schools in Central Devon and was sponsored by Ashburton Post Office. To save paper, the majority of Mel’s cards were sent electronically.
Mel handed a card, with Joseph’s amazing picture of Larry the Cat outside No. 10 Downing Street on the front, directly to the Prime Minister in December, who loved it and put it on display in Downing Street.
During his visit Mel joined Year 6 pupils for one of their lessons, answering questions about his role as an MP. Mel’s visit to Bow Community Primary School was his third as an MP, with his last visit being in January 2018. He has also previously welcomed pupils from the school up to Westminster.
Headteacher Clare Wilmott said:
“It was great for Mel to join some of our older pupils for a discussion on Parliament and democracy and to award Joseph with his prize. We are all very proud of him for his amazing artwork and are so pleased the Prime Minister loved it!”
Mel added:
“Joseph’s drawing was very special and it was great to meet him and hand over his well-deserved prize in person. It was also great to speak to Year 6 – they had some very thoughtful questions. I am very pleased the school is doing so well.”
