What a sparkling display of imagination and splendour we unleashed when we invited Stamford Schools to join our competition to design a medal for The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. We had a wealth of entries from Years 4-6 at Malcolm Sargent Primary School School, Stamford Junior School and St Gilbert's Church of England Primary School. The Crown, the Union flag, lots of jewels, and The Queen of course all featured prominently among the entries, all decorated with an abundance of ribbons and glitter.

Our judges, Branch President Derek Gladman, Chairman John Copeland, Secretary Pat Savory, Youth & Schools Member Darren Rawnsley and Joyce Burton had real difficulty in choosing their favourite entries. They were all so good that they felt that everyone deserved a prize but, in the end, they decided after much agonizing on a charming design, featuring a Royal corgi, by Ellie Marston of St Gilbert's School! What imagination!

Other winners were Gabrielle Ball of Malcolm Sargent School and Tabitha Crook, aged 8, from Stamford Junior School. They will all receive a real Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Branch and a Poppy pin badge, and St Gilbert's School will be awarded the Joyce Burton Trophy for the overall standard of all of their numerous entries. The Trophy has been commissioned and generously funded by Joyce Burton for presentation each year to the school winning this and other similar Branch competitions in the future.

This was a charming competition which brought out so many lovely ideas from our children. Our thanks to our judges for taking on a difficult and thankless task, to Darren for the idea and for organising it so well, but especially to the schools and the children for joining in with such spirit.

Also - well done to Tabitha Crook from Stamford Junior School for her wonderful design!