The talented young artists, who were announced as winners of the Hertfordshire Heroes Christmas Art Competition in December 2023, recently spent a day at Northwood Headquarters as their prize.
Organised by Hertfordshire County Council, the 11th annual Christmas competition saw submissions from 670 children across 18 schools in the county. Key stage two children were invited to create artwork to share with those in the Armed Forces serving away from home over the holiday period to bring them Christmas cheer.
The winning pupils enjoyed a full day of activities kindly organised by Northwood Headquarters. First, they were put through their paces with some team building activities run by an Army Physical Training Instructor followed by an archery tournament which culminated in the Lord Lieutenant Sir Robert Voss and the Commanding Officer Clint Read challenging each other to target practice, resulting in a very diplomatic tie-breaker result!
The children were then treated to a range of musical activities with Northwood’s Bandmaster teaching them percussion and conducting skills. Volunteers from the band joined in to provide musical support which saw the children learning new skills and receiving an insight into an aspect of the military they may not have considered.
After a hearty meal and well-deserved rest and recuperation, or ‘R&R’, it was time to learn some military skills. Erecting shelters and cooking rations outdoors were the order of the afternoon, and the children embraced the task with enthusiasm. The children were even taught the art of camouflage and concealment by a Royal Marine.
As the ‘Day of Adventure’ drew to a close, Colonel Read addressed the group to thank and congratulate them on their winning designs and for participating with such enthusiasm. The Lord Lt of Hertfordshire Sir Robert Voss also thanked the children and Colonel Read, adding how much he had enjoyed visiting the event, along with Councillors Fiona Hill (Chairman of the Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant Board) Mark Mills-Bishop (Deputy Chairman of the Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant Board), and Terry Douris, Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council.
This competition helps support the joining of military and civilian communities in Hertfordshire, which is one of the three aims of the Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant Board.