12 April 2007
Great day out for SPT competition winners
Seven talented youngsters scooped the top prize in the annual Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) travel ticket design competition and as a result, were treated to an exclusive behind the scenes look at several of Glasgow’s unique transport services on 5 April 2007.
This year’s competition was run under a new format and involved the children selecting one of the following images to be the subject matter for their design entry:
- the iconic St Enoch Subway station
- the Clyde ferry vessel Renfrew Rose
- British Transport Police’s mascot, Bertie the panda
The competition attracted a record number of entries - 350 in total – from children in the 6-12 age group attending playscheme groups and after school clubs across west central Scotland.
The winning entries were selected by a panel of judges from the West of Scotland Playscheme Advisory Forum, led by Chair Mary McFall, who admitted the panel had their work cut out to select the eventual winners.
The winners were:
Sophie McKellan, Cranstonhill
Georgia Galloway, Coatbridge
Craig McMahon, Cathkin
Emma Murray, Summerston
Caitlyn Jones, Parkhouse
Melissa Reid, Cadder
Aiden Maxwell, Clydebank
The youngsters, accompanied by a friend and family member, travelled as VIP guests on the Subway and were given unprecedented access to the drivers’ cab. This was followed by a short Clyde cruise on board one of SPT’s ferries, the Renfrew Rose.
Following the successful trial of deploying British Transport Police (BTP) officers on the Subway as part of a community policing initiative, they joined forces with SPT to get involved in the competition for the first time. After lunch, the group paid a visit to BTP’s Cowcaddens Headquarters for an insight into the work of their officers.
The children were introduced to the BTP dog handlers and came face to face with two key players - Zico, the alsatian and spaniel Murphy. They saw the dogs being put through their paces, busy at their important detection work. The prize winners also paid a visit to the cells and although they didn’t get banged up for the rest of the day, they were briefly handcuffed.
Michael Ferrie, SPT’s Research Officer and prize day organiser said: “The designs were inspirational and have been incorporated on our three different travel passes. The new passes are now in use and have already received loads of compliments.
“This is the sixth year of the design competition and shows how much we value our association with the Playscheme initiative because it allows so many children the chance to make the most of the summer holidays with travel across the Strathclyde area.
”We’re delighted that BTP got involved in the competition for the first time this year and hope the prize winners had a great day out. A big thank you must go to everyone at the Subway, the Renfrew Ferry and BTP who helped make the day so much fun.”
Superintendent Ronnie Mellis, area commander of British Transport Police in Scotland, added: “Although this was designed as a fun day for the prizewinners it also gave the BTP officers the chance to get across the more serious message that playing near the railway tracks is dangerous.”
ends