10-year-old boy to switch-on Penzance Christmas Lights

Harry Wade has been chosen as the winner of the Mayor's Christmas card competition

Author: Sophie SquiresPublished 26th Nov 2024
Last updated 26th Nov 2024

A 10-year-old boy is going to be switching on this year's Christmas lights in Penzance.

It's after Harry Wade, from St Mary's Catholic Primary School, was chosen by the town's Mayor as the winner of his annual Christmas Card Competition.

Now in its fifth year, the competition invites all Year 5 and 6 school pupils in the Penzance Parish to enter their designs for the Mayor’s Christmas Card.

With the theme of 'Christmas Under the Sea', this year’s winning entry will be sent out by the Mayor, Stephen Reynolds, as an e-card.

From the 175 entries, the Mayor was tasked with selecting five: one winner from each of the five schools who entered the competition, with one of those winners being chosen as the overall winner.

The overall winning entry by Harry Wade from St Mary's Catholic Primary School

On hearing that Harry Wade had been chosen as overall winner this year, Headteacher of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Mrs Bingham said:

"We are all delighted that Harry has won the Christmas card competition! What a great achievement for Harry and a proud moment for St Mary's Catholic School! We are all very proud!"

The winners of the Mayor’s Christmas Card Competition 2024 are:

  • Harry Wade from St Mary's Catholic Primary School (overall winner)
  • Stacey from Heamoor Community Primary School
  • Bella-Marie from Alverton Primary School
  • Ophelia from St Mary's C of E School
  • Wilby from Gulval School

All winners will receive a prize from the Mayor, with the overall winner, Harry Wade, getting the honours of switching on the Christmas Lights in Penzance this year on Saturday, 30 November.

Harry’s winning design will be sent from the Mayor of Penzance across the Duchy and beyond, as far away as Nevada City in California, to schools, community organisations, Parish Councillors, and the Armed Forces.

"This was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, as Mayor of Penzance! To choose the winner from such an amazing range of colourful, witty, imaginative interpretations of Christmas Under the Sea - the school pupils of Penzance Parish have risen to the challenge. The future of art in our community is obviously safe!"

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