ILSINGTON Church Of England Primary School pupil Daria Viushynska, aged nine, has received a prize from local MP Mel Stride for coming runner-up in the competition to design his 2022 Christmas Card. 

The Member of Parliament, who sends more than a thousand Christmas Cards each year to family, friends, colleagues and local organisations he has visited during the previous 12 months, visited the school to award Daria with a box of art supplies. 

Nine-year-old pupil pupil Daria Viushynska had a pleasant surprise for MP Mel Strie when she presented him with a special drawing.
Nine-year-old pupil pupil Daria Viushynska had a pleasant surprise for MP Mel Strie when she presented him with a special drawing. (-)

The competition for 2022 was open to the 43 primary schools in Central Devon and was sponsored by Ashburton Post Office. 

To save paper, the majority of Mel’s cards were sent electronically.

During his visit Mel joined the whole school for an assembly and spoke to pupils about Parliament and his role as an MP. 

After receiving her prize, Daria then had a surprise for Mel when she presented him with another spectacular drawing she had done for the MP to keep.

Headteacher Samantha McCarthy-Patmore said: ‘It was lovely to have Mel join us for a school assembly, talk to our pupils about Parliament and to award Daria with her prize. 

‘We are all very proud of her!’

Mel added: ‘Art is an important subject and I was delighted to have so many wonderful entries to my Christmas card competition this year. 

‘I really enjoyed meeting Daria and it was a pleasure to speak to such a well-behaved and polite group of pupils.’

For more about Ilsington Church of England Primary School visit www.ilsington.thelink.academy