Award ceremony for fifth annual Christmas picture competition held in Garston

The work of Watford’s budding young artists were recognised at the annual prize-giving ceremony for The Co-op Food Christmas Theme Picture Competition, which was held at The Stanborough Centre in Garston on Thursday, December 2. The competition has been held for the past five years and, although only four schools submitted entries this year, the standard of work was high. The entry criteria was that each piece of art should depict a Christmas scene using any medium such as paint, crayon, and collages. However, no piece could include any computer work or enhancement or any obvious adult assistance. This year’s submission included well-constructed 3-D entries for the first time. Children between the ages of 4 to11 years from four primary schools: Kingsway Infants, Orchard Primary School and Stanborough Primary School all situated in North Watford/Garston and Chambersbury Primary School in Hemel Hempstead submitted entries which were displayed around the centre’s walls.The prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3^rd places were divided into two age groups: 4-7 and 8-11 years. The schools attended by the main prize winners  – Stanborough Primary and Kingsway Infants – also received a cheque for £100 from Pastor Jacques Venter, the senior minister at Stanborough Park Church. The prize-giving event was organised and sponsored by Co-op staff. Enoch Kanagaraj, a Co-op employee based at the Abbotswood Park store in Leavesden, is the Chairman of the Community Chaplaincy Service at Stanborough Park Church which works to support needy individuals in the local community and has been the driving force behind the event. Andy Tomlinson, Area Manager for Co-op stores, congratulated the winners and spoke of the company’s commitment to helping local communities and charities through its membership scheme nearly £1100 has been raised in the last three months alone for three deserving causes in the local community. It is planned to hold the competition again next year when it is hoped that more local schools will take up the challenge and submit entries.