Declan has put his stamp on Christmas competition

Declan has put his stamp on Christmas competition

24 May 2017

A CASTLEWELLAN schoolboy has won a place in the finals of Royal Mail’s Christmas Stamp Design Competition.

Declan Burns (6), from St Malachy’s Primary School, won the Northern Ireland aged four to seven category and will now go through as one of the 24 national finalists for the last stage of the competition.

The budding artist’s snowman picture is now in with a chance of being one of two chosen by Prince Charles and approved by the Queen for this year’s Christmas first and second hand stamps.

Declan’s entry was chosen as one of the best from over 200,000 received from across the country and from 4,683 in Northern Ireland.

The panel of judges for Northern Ireland included Chris Lyttle MLA, Noleen Charnley, Consumer Empowerment and Protection Officer at Consumer Council NI, Chris Buckler BBC Northern Ireland Correspondent, Clare Lawlor Learning and Participation Officer at the Metropolitan Arts Centre, Belfast and Chris Lees Royal Mail Operations Manager.

Only three times before in Royal Mail’s history – 1966, 1981 and 2013 - have the official Christmas stamps been designed by children.

To celebrate the 24 finalists progressing to the next stage in the competition, a special postmark that will feature on mail delivered to addresses nationwide from May 22 to 27. The postmark will read ‘Congratulations to the 24 Finalists of Royal Mail’s 2017 Christmas Stamp Competition’.

By progressing to the final 24, Declan has won £500 in vouchers and £500 for his school.