Bassetlaw schoolgirl wins award for poem commemorating Stephen Lawrence's life

A Bassetlaw schoolgirl’s poem dedicated to the memory of Stephen Lawrence has been chosen as a winner of a competition commemorating his life.
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Maisy Willis, a Year 7 pupil at the Elizabethan Academy in Retford, was selected as part of five winners of a contest that saw schoolchildren and other young people from across Nottinghamshire submit entries to share the importance of remembering Stephen Lawrence.

Thursday marked 28 years since the anniversary of Stephen’s death, after he was murdered in a racially motivated attack while waiting for a bus in Eltham, London on the evening of April 22, 1993.

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Year 9 pupil at Ashfield Academy Annabel Boot won an award for her poster commemorating Stephen Lawrence’s life.Year 9 pupil at Ashfield Academy Annabel Boot won an award for her poster commemorating Stephen Lawrence’s life.
Year 9 pupil at Ashfield Academy Annabel Boot won an award for her poster commemorating Stephen Lawrence’s life.

The competition was designed to encourage children to create pieces of content that highlighted the significance of the murder of Stephen and how the lessons learned are still so important today.

The competition which was open to young people aged 10 to 18 and was designed to raise awareness about the significance of Stephen’s murder.

Force outreach worker Romel Davis, of Nottinghamshire Police, selected the winners as part of a panel that included representatives from the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation.

He said: “Whenever we run competitions we are always overwhelmed by the incredible standard of entries that our young people produce and as always, it is very hard to choose winners.

“We were so impressed with five submissions and each has been given a £40 gift cards.

"Maisy’s was selected as particularly outstanding by the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation.”

In total 29 entries were submitted and the winners were revealed last week week.

Romel added: “We regularly run competitions to highlight the skills and talents of young people and to reward them for their efforts.

“The Citizens in Policing Department are always open to suggestions, so if you have any ideas on how best we can come and support you in some way do get in touch with us via [email protected].”

Other winners included Year 9 pupil Annabel Boot and Year 7 student Sofia Farooque, from Ashfield Academy, in Kirkby, who designed posters.

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