CHILDREN in Trimley St Mary are to receive special awards under a new scheme being set up to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.Parish councillors have identified a number of projects in the village to celebrate the monarch's 50 years on the throne.

By Richard Cornwell

CHILDREN in Trimley St Mary are to receive special awards under a new scheme being set up to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Parish councillors have identified a number of projects in the village to celebrate the monarch's 50 years on the throne.

Having set aside £2,000 in their annual budget, the councillors want to create some permanent reminders of the special year.

One of the main projects will be to set up a special achievement award to recognise the special efforts of youngsters at the primary school.

The scheme will be similar to the Ray Howlett Awards, in memory of a much-loved former councillor and village stalwart, at Trimley St Martin.

Each year class teachers choose one person from each class who has really achieved something – not necessarily the child with the best marks, but the one which has shown real effort and endeavour. The winners are presented with a book token to mark their commitment.

Trimley St Mary councillors now want to set up a similar scheme at the school in High Road and will be talking to headteacher Mike Jude and governors to see what they think of the idea.

The awards would be known as Queen's Jubilee Memorial Awards.

The council's other top priority will be to refurbish the garden next to the school gate and village sign as an area to be enjoyed by the public.

The spot is to have a new bench in memory of former council chairman Don Donnelly, who died recently, and will now have an additional bench and a new noticeboard.

Other projects being lined up by the council include the possibility of a weather vane, extra litter bins, and some additional financial help for the carnival.

The council is also joining forces with Trimley St Martin council to smarten up the link road leading into the villages and name it Jubilee Way.

Parish council vice chairman Nigel Bantoft said: "I think we should have permanent reminders of the jubilee rather than a particular event and hopefully these projects will benefit the whole community."