The East Leeds History & Archeaology Society (ELHAS) held their presentation to this year’s winners of the annual garden design competition in memory of the Barnbow Lasses.
Richard Burgon MP and Councillor Pauline Grahame presented the prizes to the pupils of Year 5 at Manston Primary School. The school received an engraved cup to hold for the year. Pupil Ryan Langstaff the winner also received an engraved cup and a book. Three other prize winners were presented with books, Isabelle Ward, Ellie Wrigg and Nathan Atkinson-Parle. Every child that took part in the competition will receive a certificate from ELHAS.
Members of ELHAS had delivered an illustrated talk to the pupils prior to their entries about the Barnbow Lasses.
Jacki Lawrence Secretary of ELHAS commented ” We were delighted to recieve the entries from Year 5 of Manston Primary School this year, and as ever the judging panel were faced with a difficult decision to choose the winner. Ryan’s design, with its solid waves of vibrant pink and orange colours emanating from a yellow centre exactly conveyed the idea of an ‘explosion’, which is what he called his design. Leeds City Council Parks and Countryside department did a splendid job in interpretting Ryan’s design”.
Jacki continues “It is also worth mentioning that Year 5 also submitted written work about the tragedy of 1916, and copies of these along with a selection of the garden designs are on display in the Heritage Room of Cross Gates library. We hope to repeat this event every year since it is a positive way of keeping the memory of the Barnbow Lasses alive and remembering the sacrifices they made”.
