Shelby's prize letter

SHELBY Walker a pupil of Newbuildings Primary School has been awarded a runner-up prize in a letter writing competition run by Royal Mail beating off stiff competition from pupils at schools throughout Northern Ireland.

Young people were asked to write to their 1st Class Hero and Shelby, aged 10, wrote to her Granny. It was clear from her letter that Shelby loved her Granny very much as she was someone she could talk to and share her worries. She obviously misses her Granny as she sadly died last year but Shelby but her legacy lives on in Shelby who wants to be just like her when she grows up.

Judges were impressed by the standard of entries and had a difficult task picking the winners in each of three categories.

Michael McKernan, Royal Mail Delivery Office Manager in Londonderry, who visited Shelby's school on Wednesday 14 April to present her prize said: "It is obvious from her letter that Shelby had a great deal of affection for her Granny.

"Her letter is very neat with clear handwriting and is presented beautifully. She is a very deserving winner of this prize".

The competition encouraged children to write a letter with a purpose to their hero or heroine, demonstrating imagination and creativity within a basic letter format.

Hundreds of children from schools throughout Northern Ireland entered the competition writing some inspired letters to their first class heroes which included cartoon characters, family members, authors, TV and sports stars and even pets.