11-year-old Jessica Horton from Widewell Primary Academy has created the winning design for this year’s Plymouth Armed Forces Day badge.
Pupils from schools across Plymouth have been competing to create a badge which represents the spirit of Armed Forces Day.
Jessica’s winning design shows the iconic Smeaton’s Tower with the Mayflower ship in the centre, against a background of the Devon flag. Her creativity and colourful design really impressed the judges.
Jessica’s pin badge is now on sale at the Tourist information Centre on the Barbican and the Royal British Legion Pop In Centre on Armada Way for a suggested £3 donation.
The badge will also be available to buy at Plymouth Armed Forces Day on Saturday 29 June from the Military Kid’s Club (MKC) Heroes tent in the Royal Navy Village.
All money raised from badge sales goes to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Last year’s badge raised £1,625.
The badge competition is sponsored by MKC Heroes, a tri-service support network for the children of service men and women. The group was formed in Plymouth in 2010 with Plymouth Military Kid’s Club (MKC Heroes) now the biggest cluster in the country with over 60 member schools. In total, there are more than 10,000 members across the country.
Pete Ogburn, one of the founders of MKC Heroes, visited the school to break the exciting news to Jessica who was very proud to be awarded first place and her father, an army veteran himself, was delighted her design won.
Susanne Archard, Area Manager for The Royal British Legion, said: “Very well done to Jessica for her winning colourful and imaginative design. It’s great that all the children across Plymouth involved in the competition had this opportunity to think about what their Armed Forces and City means to them.
“All the money raised from donations for the badges helps to fund the vital services and the support the Legion offers to those who are serving and those who have served, their families and dependants. I’m certainly looking forward to wearing Jessica’s badge at Armed Forces Day.”
Jessica won £75 for her badge design with the runners up winning £50 and £25. Jessica will receive her prize at the Armed Forces Day Flag Raising Ceremony on Monday 24 June, which marks the official start of Armed Forces Week.
This year’s Armed Forces Day, in association with Babcock, offers a packed day of entertainment including parades, arena displays, interactive activities, exhibitions, live music and air displays, including an appearance from the RAF Red Arrows.