Tomas wows judges with his story of hero school lollipop man
A BELFAST boy’s story about a superhero lollipop man has put him in the running for a national award.
St Brides Primary School pupil Tomas Sidebottom (5) penned Victor The Danger Stopping Man.
It’s the tale of how crossing patrol man Victor protects children with his magic sign.
“Victor can make any car stop, even very big ones. I bet he could make an aeroplane stop. He is brave. He is my real life hero,” Tomas wrote.
The competition invited children from across the UK to write a 500-word story about ‘ heroes’ — whether it be their parents, a policeman or their idols.
Organised by tuition provider Explore Learning, the competi- tion is now in its 10th year, and this year’s judge was comedian David Walliams, a best-selling children’s author.
Tomas’ proud mum Ciara said: “Tomas is really chuffed.
“It ’s the fi rst story he’s written, he’s only in P2.”
The school s e n t To m a s ’ story in to the competition, a nd he won t he Northern Ireland regional award.
“The school made a big fuss of him,” added Ciara.
“They had a special assembly, and he received a trophy and a certificate.
“I’m so proud of him. How could you not be?”
Warren Hughes of Explore Learning said: “When we read the story it really melted our hearts.
“Everyone that read the story has been blown away by it.” Tomas’ effort is now in the running for the UK award, to be announced on June 18 during a surprise visit to the winner’s school by Walliams ( l ef t ) , the star of Little Britain and Britain’s Got Talent and author of The Boy In The Dress and Mr Stink, among others.
He said: “I was overwhelmed by the quality and creativity of the stories I was reading and was so impressed that this broad range of exciting ideas have come from such young writers.”