3rd October 2012

WEYMOUTH: Children receive civic awards from mayor

By Harry Walton

THIRTEEN “pioneer” youngsters from Southill Primary School have become the first ever winners of a major new award scheme for young children.

Mayor Margaret Leicester hosted them in the Mayor’s Parlour where she presented them all with certificates under the Weymouth and Portland Civic Award for successfully completing six months work on a variety of projects.

They tackled everything from dog walking for an elderly neighbour to whittling and cooking.

Organiser and former Southill Year 5 teacher Tess Chapman brought the award idea with her when she arrived at the school from Hampshire where it has operated successfully for 26 years.

She said: “It is a very proud moment to see them receive civic awards for their efforts.

“They had to do six months with a physical hobby and a non-physical hobby, one of which had to be new to them. They also had to do community public service and school public service, all this being finished by a 24-hour camp. It was a pleasure to look after the group and they have thoroughly deserved their awards today.”

She was helped by retired teacher Roy Honeybone who said: “I am absolutely delighted that Tess brought the award to Weymouth and Portland. The children have done her proud.”

Mrs Leicester said: “We are very pleased at Southill’s reaction to the awards which they launched in 2011-2012.

“We hope their example has inspired more schools to join the Award this year and we understand four are now interested.

“These awards need a lot of commitment and you cannot always guarantee that commitment from young children, but Southill has been excellent and the 13 pupils thoroughly deserve their recognition and certificates.

WEYMOUTH: Children receive civic awards from mayor

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