School pupils shine in community venue’s VE Day competitions

A community venue has announced the winners of its competitions held as part of a programme marking the 80th Anniversary of VE Day. Banff Castle organised creative writing and art competitions for school pupils. Writers tackled “The Parachute Mystery”, crafting stories set during wartime Banff, while young artists designed striking WWII-style posters on themes like Dig for Victory and Careless Talk Costs Lives.

The creative writing results were: • Winner: Lacey Cheyne (Macduff School, P6/7). • Joint runner-up: Reggie Powell (Macduff School, P6/7). • Joint runner-up: Amarah Forsyth (Rosehearty School, P6/7).



• Winner: Layandrea Zisusa (Fraserburgh Academy, S1–S3). The art competition results were: • Winner: Violet Lang (Banff School, P6/7) – “Dig for Victory”. • Runner-up: Sandra Bogdanowicz (Banff School, P6/7) – “Grow and Dig Your Own Food”.

The awards will be presented by Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire Andrew Simpson, at the VE and Community Showcase Day on Saturday, May 10. The winning entries will be on display at Banff Castle from May 9 to 12, and featured in a special commemorative booklet sponsored by the Friends of Duff House. All proceeds from booklet sales will be donated to the Royal British Legion.

Project officer at Banff Castle Jo Edwards said: “It’s been wonderful to hear how much the schools valued the competitions. “They felt it really engaged their pupils in a creative and meaningful way - we’re now thinking about making it a regular annual event.” The competitions are part of Banff Castle’s wider VE Day programme, which includes a screening of Casablanca; The Banffshire at War exhibition (throughout May); Film showings of RAF Banff Strike Wing; a day of 1940s-inspired celebration on Saturday, May 10 with live music, dancing and vintage vehicles; a talk by John Cameron sharing his boyhood memories of wartime life in Gamrie.

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