A PUPIL from Lydiard Park Academy will next month attend a prestigious awards ceremony in the House of Lords after winning a letter writing competition.

Pupils from across the country had to write a thank you letter to someone who has either helped or inspired them.

As a school, LPA was asked to choose six letters to send through to the National Thank You Letters Awards.

12-year-old Kimmy, who was named the winner, said: “It’s really exciting. I didn’t think it was going to be me and I was really happy when I found out I’d won because I really like winning.

“I wrote to my little brother George because he is not someone I often say thank you to but he has taught me to be selfless and to share, which is a really good thing.

“I feel very lucky to be able to go to the House of Lords and meet these people. I’m really excited to see them in person.”

The competition was run by The Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues which is a part of the School of Education at the University of Birmingham.

Pupils were invited to write a thank you letter to someone who had inspired them, improved their community, or made Britain a better place.

The aim was to recognise and reward young people between the ages of 5-16 who had shown gratitude to others in their everyday lives.

LPA teacher Michelle Smith said: “I thought it would be a great opportunity because the pupils are fantastic writers.

“They did it for homework and all of them brought it in the next day.

“We are very proud that one of our pupils has been invited to attend the awards ceremony.”

Last year they had over 40,000 participants taking part and this year more than 70,000 letters were sent in across 400 schools and organisations.

Simeon, 12, said: “I did it to say thank you to my rugby coaches. I said thank you for all the training and the sport they have done with me. I really enjoyed doing it, I thought it was a really good idea.”

Thomas, also 12, was named the LPA in-house winner. He said he got the idea to write to his great, great grandfather who had fought in World War Two. Thomas thanked him for a book his great, great grandfather had subsequently written and had passed on through the generations of his family.

Nikki Schneider, LPA’s lead TA, said: “We were very impressed with the quality of the letters, they were really heart felt. It shows the ethos of the school to be grateful for what you have, and not just in terms of material possessions.”