Schoolgirl winner of Queen's Diamond Jubilee tribute competition

A Windsor schoolgirl has won the competition to design a lasting Windsor town centre tribute to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Fourteen-year-old Caroline Basra, a pupil at Windsor Girls' School, was named on Friday as the winner of the popular competition which drew more than 40 entries following its launch in October.

Her winning entry - a spiral of 60 spheres rising upwards described as "very imaginative" by judges - will take pride of place in King Edward Court between Waitrose and Daniel's department store.

Caroline, who lives in Eton, is excited at the prospect of seeing her design brought to life. She said after the presentation: "I thought of this design because the 60 spheres signify the 60 years that her Majesty has reigned.

"I am hoping the sunny environment of King Edward Court will provide the perfect place for the sculpture to catch the light."

The winner was announced by Deputy Mayor, Cllr Asghar Majeed, at a reception in the Guildhall on Friday. The runners-up were named as Mrs Claire Bent-Marshall who suggested a large interactive sundial and three entries from Mrs Margaret Matthews, Mrs Connie Denby and Mr Michael Pitfield who each proposed statues of the Queen in various styles of ceremonial or traditional dress.

The tribute competition, co-ordinated by the Windsor and Eton Society and involving the Royal Borough and community organisations, was launched in October 2010. More than 40 entries were received from members of the public, local schools and other organisations.

Speaking at the reception Andrew Melville, Chairman of the tribute committee said: "We were looking for something original, innovative and new, and I think Caroline has come up with a very imaginative idea. The next step is to create the tribute with the help of an artist or sculptor to underline the special connection between Windsor and the Queen.

"Windsor has a proud tradition of marking important dates in the monarch's reign, with perhaps the 1887 statue of Queen Victoria on Castle Hill being the most famous. This, with the castle in the background, has become an iconic image of Windsor for international TV reporters and visitors to the town alike. We hope that Caroline's winning tribute will become equally popular."

Artists and sculptors will now be asked to put forward proposals for bringing Caroline's design to life, and local businesses and organisations encouraged to make donations and organise activities and events to fund the tribute.
The new monument is scheduled to be ready by the start of the Olympic Games in 2012, with its expected influx of visitors locally for the Olympic rowing competition at Dorney Lake.

Further information about the tribute can found at www.diamond-jubilee.org.uk

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