Mayor’s card contest honours heroic Captain Hicks
A HEROIC soldier who died while serving in Afghanistan has been remembered through a Christmas card contest.
Wokingham borough mayor, Cllr Rob Stanton, asked pupils to design his festive greeting and use it as an opportunity to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Captain David Hicks MC, who was posthumously awarded the Military Cross – one of the highest military honours – for his courage and heroism in the line of duty.
The theme of the card was helping others at Christmas time, with a view to celebrating people who, much like Captain Hicks MC did, work throughout the Christmas period to help others: doctors, nurses, police officers, soldiers, firefighters, and many more
Entries were split into three age groups, and a winner selected for each age group and a subsequent overall winner chosen. The winning design was drawn by Zelia Fernandes from Winnersh Primary School.
Captain Hicks’ parents, Alun and Lesley, acted as judges and donated the prizes.
They joined the Mayor and Mayoress, Maureen Stanton, to present Zelia with a certificate, as well as £1,000 prize money for her school.
The two runners-up – from Robert Piggott Primary School and St Nicholas Hurst Primary School – received a certificate and £250 each for their schools.
The Hicks’ will also use the winning design when they send out their Christmas cards this year.
Cllr Stanton said: “I was honoured to be able to run the competition this year with the support of Alun and Lesley, parents of Captain David Hicks MC.
“We had a huge number of entrants in all three categories, and the standards were very high.
“Well done to Zelia, and everyone else who entered.”