10.07.2001

Essex school children scoop safety award

Seven lucky Essex school children from Corringham Junior School scooped the major award in a water safety poster competition organised by the Port of London Authority (PLA).

They were presented with their prizes by Meg Hillier and Brian Coleman, the joint Presidents of the London Home and Water Safety Council, during a visit to the London Aquarium today Tuesday 10 July.

Based on children’s thoughts on safety near water, the competition was the brainchild of cartoonist Don Seed, who was commissioned by the PLA to design the PLA’s Riverside Code safety caravan and an early learning reading book on water safety. Don challenged the children to show what they had learned about safety and design an eye catching poster to warn others of the dangers they may encounter when playing near the waterside.

As part of their prize, the children were given a day at the London Aquarium where the PLA arranged for them to have a trip around the fish tanks, which included a "close encounter" with some rays.

The PLA has been an active member of the London Home and Water Safety Council for several years. Part of the promotion of water safety is a new permanent display about the Port of London that the Authority has recently sponsored at the Aquarium.