‘My Gas Safe Hero’ competition winner announced
10 year old Poppy Worthington-Harris, from Oakamoor, has won Gas Safe Register’s national ‘My Gas Safe Hero’ competition. Poppy's entry – a drawing of her granny collapsing due to carbon monoxide fumes from a faulty gas fire – has been turned into a comic strip and was presented at the Houses of Parliament.
The competition, launched as part of Gas Safety Week (15-21 September), invited 4 to 12 year olds to submit a drawing or short story that depicted their Gas Safe registered relative or family friend keeping a community or family gas safe.
Poppy submitted a drawing that showed her coming to her granny’s rescue after a gas fire leaked carbon monoxide, all tips she’s learnt from her Gas Safe registered engineer Dad. Her drawing was turned into a comic strip and a short animation by a professional illustrator, both of which were unveiled at Gas Safety Week’s launch event, which Poppy and her family attended. Poppy’s comic strip and animation are now being used to promote gas safety to the public.
Talking about her win, Poppy Worthington-Harris, said:
"I was really happy that I won and very excited. I had been to London a few times but never to the House of Commons. It was really awesome, really massive and I met so many nice people. I love the cartoon and the video, all my friends are dead jealous. All my family are really proud of me.”
Having considered over 40 entries, competition judges, Gordon Lishman and Chris Bielby, the respective chairs of official supporters of Gas Safety Week, the Gas Safe Charity and the Gas Safety Trust, said: “We were extremely impressed by the quality of the entries and the passionate enthusiasm for gas safety which shone through in every picture and story. All the drawings and stories showed the great work registered engineers do to keep people gas safe: from fixing a faulty appliance to helping people evacuate a dangerous area.”
Gas Safety Week is an annual public awareness week which aims to raise awareness of gas safety across the UK. It is coordinated by Gas Safe Register – the official gas registration body which replaced CORGI in 2009 – with support from the gas industry including retailers, appliance manufacturers, consumer bodies such as OFGEM and the public.
Russell Krämer, chief executive for Gas Safe Register, explains:
“This competition celebrated the work of registered engineers in keeping people safe, which is something that often goes unnoticed. It’s been a fun way for engineers’ families and friends to get involved in Gas Safety Week and it’s great to see vital gas safety messages reach kids as well.”
Find more information about Gas Safety Week and to view Ruby’s successful entry, visit www.GasSafetyWeek.co.uk.