Great advert for young talent

Each of the 37 had come top of the class at their primary school by producing an advert that got full marks from bosses of the local firms, authorities and attractions who had commissioned the work.

And that made them all winners in the Express & Star's annual Design an Ad competition.

They represented schools from throughout Staffordshire and the Black Country and were honoured at a prize giving at Wolverhampton Racecourse's Holiday Inn Hotel.

Each school had been paired with a different company or authority that provided a theme for an advertisement that the pupils had to invent.

This year's competition attracted hundreds of entries with the organisations picking a favourite design and the lucky winners each winning a framed copy of their advert, a certificate, a £50 cheque for their school and a book token and free tickets for the forthcoming family fun day at the racecourse.

It was then up to readers to pick an overall winner by studying the 37 designs, with the top pupil winning a bumper £500 reward for their school.

The 13th running of the event proved to be very lucky for nine year old Megan Williams from Perry Hall Primary School, Ashmore Park, Wolverhampton, whose eye-catching advert for the forthcoming Scooby-Doo show at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre scooped the main prize.

The overall winner was announced last and Megan, from Wednesfield, said afterwards: "As it got closer to the end without my name being called out, my heart started racing and I kept asking my mum how many more names there were to go.

"When I realised I had won and I was very happy. My cheeks are hurting from smiling so much."

Her mother Jennifer declared: "I am really proud of her. She had been really looking forward to today. She cried when she heard that her advert was chosen by her school as their best advert and so I was a bit worried that she was going to cry again when her name was called out as the overall winner today but fortunately there were no more tears this time."

Megan's triumphant entry had a distinctive strap line across the top of a colourful poster with an Egyptian theme acknowledging that the Scooby-Do show is entitled the Mystery of the Pyramid.

Louise Walker, creative learning manager at The Grand Theatre, said: "It was the perfect subject because it allowed a child's eye view of a children's show."

Iain Watkins, its head of marketing, added: "The standard from the Perry Hall pupils was remarkable. They were all wonderfully colourful and vibrant and it was a really difficult to pick the best but the standard was so high I felt it might have a good chance in the overall contest. Megan's entry was tremendously creative and we are giving her tickets for the show that opens in a fortnight as an extra prize."

Perry Hall art teacher Sue Phillips, whose 60 Year 4 pupils submitted entries, confessed: "I have no idea what the £500 prize will be spent on but am sure that it will be put to very good use. I am thrilled to bits for Megan who is a wonderful girl. This is great for both her and the school."

Megan's class teacher Mr Sam Pearce added: " The competition brings out the creativity of the pupils and allows them to show off their talent while displaying imagination and creativity."

He then revealed he had promised the pupils he would have a Scooby-Doo tattoo on his face if they won. He maintained: "It was meant as an incentive to get as many as possible to take part but I am a man of my word and I will be going into school with the tattoo on Monday morning."

Mr John Greaves, from Homeserve, who selected the work of Ben Dolman from Leamore Primary School in Walsall said: "We are delighted to get involved in this competition. We already have a close bond with the school that is situated close to us and this helps to bring us even closer together. It is a lovely initiative because the entries help to give us a fresh look at how our company is seen through the eyes of the children. We had a lot of fun selecting our winner. It helps us to support our community."

Lewis Higginbottom, aged 11, from Bilston Church of England Primary, won praise from Wolverhampton Police Superintendent Keith Fraser whom commented: "It was a fantastic piece of work. It focussed on safety which is a very important message for us to get across to the general public. A competition like this also gets the pupils thinking about that subject which is very important. It also offers an opportunity for them to work with the police and helps to build their trust in the service from a very early age."

The advert designed by Lewis featured the main message 'Be Safe' along with a host of helpful pieces of advice that include not talking to strangers and not putting personal details on line when using a computer.

He explained "I wanted to get the message across to people with as much detail as possible. That way people will understand how important it is to be careful whether you are out on the street or at home on the computer."

His sister Chloe, 16, said: "He has done very well and I am proud of him."

Miss Maninder Chaggar, a teaching assistant at Bilston Church of England School where 31 Year 6 pupils submitted entries, said: "This is a great competition because it gives them an opportunity to show the outside world what they are capable of. It displays their talents and builds up their confidence."

Natalie Kelly from Blakeley Heath Primary in Wombourne took a prize with her entry for estate agent Berriman Eaton that featured a distinctive dog and the slogan ' have a woof of a time in this house.' The 11-year old from Wombourne said: "I really enjoy my art and have won competitions before."

Her proud parents Jane and Paul, who have two other children, said: "We are really chuffed."

Jo Watton, Deputy Business Manager at the Express & Star, who organised the competition, declared: "This is the highest number of sponsors and schools we have had taking part for many years with organisations such as Alton Towers, Ikea and West Midland Police joining. That is very encouraging."

Express & Star Deputy Editor Diane Davies, who presented the awards, thanked the sponsors for their support and praised the quality of the work.

"Adverts have to be eye catching and dynamic and these entries are certainly that. The standard is very, very high," she said.

Other winners in the limelight were: Storm Woods, aged nine from Elston Hall Primary; Sarika Beli, six, of Villiers Primary, Bilston; Destiny Oboh, ten, of Bantock Primary; Callum Williams, also ten, from Glebefields Primary; Saffron Karneu, Coppice Primary; Eva Franks, 11, of Greenfield Primary, Stourbridge; Jack Gamble, nine, of Priory Primary, Dudley; Emily Sault, ten, Manor Primary; Kieran Perkington, aged five of St Anne's Primary, Bewdley; Amy Drinkwater, 11, Greysbrooke Primary; Hannah Lees, aged eight, St Michaels RC Primary; Tasnin Jahan, ten, Halesowen C of E Primary; Harry Dale, nine, Doxey Primary; Atena Kayvanpour, ten, Edward the Elder Primary; Connor Maybin, aged eight, Bushbury Hill Primary; Sukhraj Gill, nine, Moat Farm Junior; Jade Maycock, aged 11, St John Bosco CAtholic Primary; Faith Youd, Jerome Primary; Faith Abby Thomas, 11, from St Lukes Primary: Aroz Ali, ten, Brockmoor Primary, Brierly Hill; Mitchell Wright, nine, Busill Jones Primary; Mae Hutton, 11, Castlecroft Primary; Ellie Mai Halden, nine, Chase View Primary; Hannah Fowler, 11, St Peter's CofE Primary; Leah Bart, ten, Castlecroft JMI; Emma-Lee Leighton, nine, Fibbersley Park Primary; Lucy Perkins, ten, Charles Coddy Walker Academy; Bethany Simmons, 11, Milking Bank Primary; Jiya Undre, ten, Newbridge Preparatory; Jacob Edwin White, eight, Ashwood Primary, Stourbridge; Kiran Poonian, 11, Cheslyn Hay Primary; Annaliese Element, nine; Aine Bromley, nine, St Peter's CofE Primary.

Other organisations which took part included: U.T.C Aerospace Systems, The Advanced Childcare Group; FBC Manby Bowdler, Sandwell Police, Spier Little Aston Hospital, Wing Yip, Dudley Building Society, N.E.S Engineering Innovation, West Midland Safari Park, AutoSmart, PIA Wealth Management, ERICKS, Stafford Railway Building Society, Jaguar Land Rover, ZAUN Ltd, Sandwell Childcare Services, Queens Square Shopping Centre, APC Overnight; Gestamp Tallent Ltd, Black Country Museum, Wing Wah, Jaffray Care Group, Bullwell Trailer Solutions, Bloor Homes, West Midlands Fire Service, Poundland, IKEA, Merry Hill Centre, Wolverhampton Racecourse, Ingram Hawkins and Nock Ltd, Hollybush Garden Centre, Alton Towers Resort, Hednesford Hills Raceway.

See more pictures of the winners online at www.expressandstar.co.uk