A BASILDON schoolgirl won a writing competition to celebrate Basildon’s 70th anniversary.

Run by Festival Leisure Park, in conjunction with the Echo and Basildon Council, the “Festival in 70 years’ time” literacy competition, saw Year Three pupil at Whitmore Way Primary, Sonya Bulgaru, win the competition out of 1,000 entries from 23 schools.

Echo:

Entry - Sonya's winning work

 

Echo:

Winner - proud Sonya

The campaign, launched in April, invited primary schools to creatively express what entertainment they thought would be at the popular leisure centre in 70 years’ time.

The judges were blown away by Sonya’s submission, after seeing her clever layout and how she mentioned virtual reality, flying cars and robots.

To present the £1,070 cheque, Matthew Chambers, centre manager at Festival Leisure Park and Basildon mayor, David Burton-Sampson, attended Whitmore Primary School’s assembly.

Festival Leisure also arranged for Sonya’s parents to attend.

Mrs Kemp, headteacher, said: “We were notified last week that Sonya had won Festival Leisure’s 70th Literacy competition and we were absolutely thrilled and it’s been a pleasure to work alongside Festival Leisure Park to arrange the presentation assembly.

“I’ll now be speaking with Sonya to decide what she’d like to spend the money on here at the school.”

Mr Burton-Sampson commented: “It was such a pleasure to present Whitmore Primary School with their prize and to meet the talented pupils and staff who have been so enthusiastic about the competition.

“Three entries were shortlisted from Whitmore, which is a testament to the outstanding creative skills among their pupils. Well done to our winner, Sonya and everyone who submitted an entry – keep up the creativity.”

Gary Pearson, editor at Newsquest Essex, said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Festival Leisure Park and Basildon Council to help celebrate Basildon’s 70th birthday. The project produced so many imaginative and creative responses.

“I’d like to say a huge congratulations to the winner.”