Eastwood School girl, Freya, 11, crowned MP’s Christmas card competition winner

An 11-year-old school girl has been crowned the Eastwood winner of Ashfield MP Gloria De Piero’s annual Christmas card competition.
Ashfield MP Gloria De Pieros with this year's annual Christmas card competition winner Freya WeightmanAshfield MP Gloria De Pieros with this year's annual Christmas card competition winner Freya Weightman
Ashfield MP Gloria De Pieros with this year's annual Christmas card competition winner Freya Weightman

Ms De Piero paid a surprise visit to Lynncroft Primary School, just off Garden Road, in Eastwood, on Friday, December 4 to announce Freya Weightman as the winner.

The festive competition was launched in October and invited pupils from primary and infant schools across Ashfield and Eastwood to show off their artistic talents and design the MP’s personal Christmas card for this year.

The judging panel, made up of the MP, the Eastwood and Kimberley Advertiser’s Andy Done-Johnson and Vic Handley from engineering firm Van Elle, selected Freya’s Rudolph the red-nosed Reindeer design and her artwork has now been professionally printed on the front of 200 of Ms De Piero cards and another 1,000 electronically will be sent to a number of people, organisations and businesses across Eastwood, Brinsley and Westminster.

“My Christmas card competition has become a highlight of the job during the festive season,” the MP said.

“I love it and judging from the number of entries we get each year – so do the children. Picking a winner is so hard, it took us ages this year but in the end we all agreed that Frey’s Rudolph design stood out the most. It looks brilliant and I can’t wait to get it sent out.”

She added: “I want to say thank you to all of the teachers and children who took part this year and local firm Van Elle deserve special praise. I’m so grateful for their continued support – without their sponsorship it wouldn’t be possible to hold this each year. Thank you to Vic and everyone else at Van Elle.”

Jacline Wilson from Brookhill Leys Primary School, on Chewton Street, was selected as this year’s runner up and she will receive a certificate and a smaller version of her design will feature on the back of Gloria’s card.

Vic Handley of Van Elle added; “We are always delighted to sponsor the competition and it’s more than worth it when you get to seek the look on the faces of the winners. It’s great to be able to engage with local schools and it is part of our commitment as a major employer in the area and our strong commitment to our community.”

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