Smiling before schools are shut

Two winners of the annual Lamlash Burns Club painting and drawing competition were last week presented with special commemorative medals at surprise assemblies at their schools in Lamlash and Shiskine.

Lamlash Burns Club president Douglas Auld and secretary Andrew Martin visited the schools and presented P1 pupil Bonnie Atkinson of Lamlash primary and Olivia McNeice, P7 pupil at Shiskine primary, with their awards.

The two winners, one in each category – P1 to P2 and P3 to P7, had their artworks selected from 201 entries from all of the primary schools on Arran.

‘The theme of this year’s competition was the Burns poem Willie Wastle which includes the line: ‘She has an e’e, she has but ane,’ as depicted in many of the drawings on this page.

Mr Martin said: ‘The Lamlash Burns Club is delighted once again, with the assistance of the island’s primary schools, head teachers Mrs Shirley MacLachlan and Mr Barry Smith, class teachers and school secretaries, for all their help and support in making this year’s competition such a success.

‘It was decided by the Burns Club this year to create two categories in this year’s competition which was based on the theme of Burns poem Willie Wastle.

In keeping with the tradition from previous years’ competitions, the standard of the entries was exceedingly high.’

In addition to the specially created limited edition commemorative medals and gift tokens received by the pupils, the winning senior entry was to be used on the certificates presented to each participant at the Burns primary schools poetry competition.

The Burns Club primary schools painting competition, now in its fifth year, is growing larger each year and three independent mainland professional artists were engaged to judge the entries and select the winners this year.

It may be some time before the Banner can print another picture like this after all schools on Arran shut today (Friday). It shows how quickly things have changed since this was taken on Monday March 9 and shows the entire Shiskine Primary School who joined P7 pupil, Olivia McNeice, to celebrate her win at the Lamlash Burns Club painting and drawing competition at a special assembly attended by club president Douglas Auld and secretary Andrew Martin.

Lamlash Primary pupil Niamh Gosman used bright and bold colours for her entry.

Kilmory Primary pupil, Severin Riddell’s entry caught the attention of the judges to make the final shortlist.

Winner of the P1 and P2 category was Bonnie Atkinson of Lamlash Primary with her charming picture.

Winner of the P3 and P7 category was Olivia McNeice of Shiskine Primary for her colourful painting.

Beth McNeice of Lamlash Primary was shortlisted for this colourful drawing.

P7 pupil at Lamlash Primary, Lydia Hird, impressed the judges with her entry which was selected for the shortlist.

Fiona Dick of Whiting Bay Primary impressed judges with her detailed drawing.

P6 pupil James Hackett of Whiting Bay Primary impressed judges with his detailed drawing.

P5 pupil at Whiting Bay, Freddie Lucas was shortlisted for this impressive painting.

Rhea Webster of Shiskine Primary was a worthy contender with her beautifully painted entry.