Coronation crown competition winners announced

After fierce competition across schools in the county, a budding group of future Crown Jewellers competed in the final. The 15 finalists each created incredible Coronation crowns, which were judged by Buckinghamshire Swan Envoy Lorraine Kelly, The Countess Howe, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Chairman of Buckinghamshire Council, Dev Dhillon, Cllr Joseph Baum, Deputy Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire Council, Rachael Shimmin and Adam Teeuw, Director of Physical Production at Lucasfilm, at the event held at the council offices in The Gateway, Aylesbury.

The judging criteria were: Wearability (how the crown sits on your head), Does the crown look Royal?, Why is the crown fit for a King? and What skills have been demonstrated (materials, complexity, effort)?

The competition was extremely close, but the ‘jewels in the crown’ were Lent Rise School, Burnham (first prize for a primary school) and Heritage House School, Chesham (first prize for a secondary school).

In the primary school’s category, second place went to Hamilton Academy, High Wycombe, and third place to Woodside Junior School, Amersham. In the secondary school category, second place went to Amersham School, Amersham.

The designers of the winning crowns each received £150, a goody bag from Lucasfilm and a tour around Pinewood Studios, second place received £100 and a goody bag from Lucasfilm and third £75 and a goody bag from Lucasfilm. All the finalists receive £20 each.

Cllr Joseph Baum, Deputy Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “It was a wonderful afternoon spent talking to the children from all parts of Buckinghamshire about their fantastic crowns. The work they put in was outstanding. We were so impressed with the quality of the crowns produced and it was very difficult to decide on the winners. Congratulations to all the children who took part.”

The winning crowns will now go on a tour with the Coronation banners around Buckinghamshire Libraries so residents can see them.

• 1st place primary – Lent Rise School, Burnham
• 2nd place primary – Hamilton Academy, High Wycombe
• 3rd place primary – Woodside School, Amersham
• 1st place secondary – Heritage House School, Chesham
• 2nd place secondary – Amersham School, Amersham

• Buckingham Park Church of England Primary School, Aylesbury
• Chalfont St Peter Infant School, Chalfont St Peter
• Holtspur School, Holtspur, Beaconsfield
• Hughenden Primary School, Hughenden Valley
• Loudwater Combined School, High Wycombe
• Thomas Harding Junior School, Chesham
• Buckingham Primary School, Buckingham
• Burford School, Marlow
• Haddenham Junior School, Haddenham
• High Wycombe Church of England Combined School, High Wycombe
• Lee Common Church of England School, Great Missenden