Design a stamp for heroes

Sir,

I hope parents will encourage their children to take part in Royal Mail’s stamp design competition, to honour the heroes of the pandemic.

The competition is open to children aged between four and 14. Eight designs will be chosen to become stamps which will be on sale across the UK.

Children may choose to illustrate front line workers in health or social care.

They may want to celebrate other key workers who have kept the country going, such as refuse collectors, cleaners, teachers, supermarket workers, public transport staff, delivery drivers or, indeed, postmen and postwomen.

Or they might highlight the volunteers who have helped in their local communities or raised money for charity, such as the late Captain Sir Tom Moore.

The competition is open until Friday May 28. A special panel of judges will select the winners.

As with all special stamps, the final eight designs will be sent to the Queen before they can be printed and issued as stamps. The winners will be announced in the autumn.

We cannot wait to see who children choose to honour on their stamp.

The past year has been very difficult for everyone, so let’s show the heroes of the pandemic just how much we appreciate what they have done for us.

Full details can be found at www.royalmail. com/stampcompetition

David Gold, Royal Mail director of external

affairs and policy.