Dudley schoolgirl wins Christmas stamp design competition
A schoolgirl from the Black Country will have her Christmas stamp design circulated this year after winning a national competition.
Ten-year-old Arwen Wilson, from Dudley, is one of two winners in a national Christmas stamp design competition – with her effort picked out by Prince Charles and given the go-ahead by The Queen.
St Chad's Catholic Primary pupil Arwen's design – 'Snow Family' – will feature on the 2nd class Christmas stamp.
The 1st class stamp will use a design by Ted Lews-Clark from Somerset who was the other competition winner.
Both Arwen and Ted will be presented with a framed set of their winning stamp designs later in the year by Prince Charles.
A special postmark will also feature on mail delivered to addresses nationwide.
Each child will have their name on the postmark for a week in November with the message: “Ted Lewis-Clark/Arwen Wilson – winner of Royal Mail’s Christmas stamp design competition.”
Arwen’s postmarks will feature on mail delivered from November 14.
Geoff Braden from Royal Mail, one of the West Midlands regional judges, said of Arwen’s design: “I particularly like the Christmas pudding and the mischievous Snowman with the snowballs.”
Royal Mail chief executive officer, Moya Greene, said: “We received a phenomenal response to our Christmas stamp design competition this year with over 200,000 entries from children across the UK.
“HRH The Prince of Wales has selected the two overall winners, and we congratulate Ted and Arwen, whose designs will be featured on millions of stamps this Christmas.
“I hope all the children who entered the competition continue being creative and artistic.”
It is is only the fourth time in the company’s 500-year history that children have designed Christmas stamps.
As with all special stamps issued by Royal Mail, both winning designs were approved by The Queen.
The winners have both won £1,000 in vouchers and £1,000 for their schools.
Other Christmas stamps for different postal rates, and a religious-themed issue, will also be available from November 7.
The stamps are available online at royalmail.com/christmas2017 or by phone on 03457 641 641 and in 7,000 post offices across the UK.
