Six-year old Austin Buchanan, a pupil at Mill Rythe Infant School, Hayling Island, has won the area’s first ever competition for school children to design Alan Mak MP’s official Christmas card for 2015.
The winning card features a festive snowman and Christmas tree. Austin told the MP it took him around 30 minutes to draw and that he regularly draws at home.
Alan Mak MP visited Austin at his school and presented him with his prizes during morning assembly on Friday 4th December. The prizes were a large House of Commons teddy bear, a family ticket to see Hansel and Gretal at the Spring Theatre in Havant, a certificate on House of Commons paper, and a full colour copy of the winning card.
The local MP's official Christmas card for 2015 was professionally printed by Hayling Print based on Hayling Island. Owner Jerry Widowson is backing Alan’s competition.
Mak’s Christmas card will be sent out to local community organisations and businesses across Alan’s constituency as well as politicians in Westminster including Prime Minister David Cameron.
Alan Mak MP said, "Austin’s card is excellent, and I enjoyed coming to his school assembly to present him with his prizes. I also want to thank all the other children for their hard work and entries, as well as the sponsors Northney Dairy, The Contemporary Home, Hayling Print and the Spring Theatre.”
Mak added, “This year’s competition was the first and it’s been such a great success that I’ve decided to run it again next year. This is a real community project, giving local children the opportunity to showcase their talents and creativity, and I’m delighted with the results this year!”
Winner Austin Buchanan said, “I really enjoyed drawing the Christmas tree and snowman. Thank you to Alan for coming to my school assembly. I am really happy about winning!”
Lucy Ford, headteacher at Mill Rythe Infant School, Hayling Island, "Congratulations to Austin! He's designed a fantastic card and everyone at school is so proud of him. This is a great community initiative from our local MP and Austin is so lucky to have won.”
Children who are runners-up will see their designs feature on the back of the card and also receive a certificate.
Every pupil who enters the completion will receive a certificate of thanks from Alan Mak MP.