Something Old -
Something New

A new venture for the Rotary Club of Billericay was to add a School Art Competition to their established Art Exhibition and Sale. From Friday 25^th until Sunday 27^th April the St. Mary Magdalen Church in the High Street was filled with the works of Art from local artists and school pupils. The recent renovations to the Church made it an ideal venue, with excellent natural lighting and ample space for the displays. 

Some Ninety exhibits to a very high standard and using various materials and techniques were entered by twenty two local artists. All the local schools participated in the Art Competition and well over 100 entries were received. The standard was again extremely high and the judges who were Sylvia Kent, (shown with Dorothy Cantrell, President of the Rotary Club) a well known local author, Jenny Lowering from Picturesque and Mike Geiger a local artist, had a very difficult time in choosing the winners. The entries were divided into 4 classes namely: - Lower Junior, Upper Junior, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary. Three prizes and certificates plus one highly commended were awarded in each section. A Reception was held at the end of the Exhibition for the adult Artists and the winning students with their parents 

The main sponsors of the event were Picturesque the Art Shop in the High Street.

Lyn Charles from Picturesque kindly provided and presented the prizes to the following students:

Lower Junior
First                             Lewis Wilson                          South Green Junior School
Second                        Dolores McGurran                  St. Peters RC Primary School
Third                            Samantha Bailey                     Buttsbury Junior School
Highly Commended    Edward Eason                        Downham C of E Primary School.

Upper Junior.
First                             Daniel Moore                           Downham C of E School
Second                        Natasja                                    St. Peters RC Primary School
Third                            Charlie Knill                             Brightside Primary School
Highly Commended    Matthew Scott                         Quilters Junior School 

Lower Secondary.
First                             Jed Jefferson                          Mayflower High School
Second                        Sam Newton                           Mayflower High School
Third                            Abbie Streater                         Mayflower High School
Highly Commended    Alex Kyle                                 The Billericay School

 Upper Secondary.
First                             Emma Dowdell                       The Billericay School
Second                        Robyn Pettitt                           Mayflower High School
Third                            Kerry Arkwright                       Mayflower High School
Highly Commended  Jed Guy                                   Mayflower High School

The Club President Rtn. Dorothy Cantrell thanked Picturesque for their support; the Ladies of the Inner Wheel who provided refreshments and everyone who had worked very hard to make the event so successful. Although the main objective of the event was to encourage Art in the Community, the proceeds of the sale of works and raffle will provide a donation of £500 to St Luke’s Hospice.