A pupil from Greenwood Academy has beaten off tough competition to win a prestigious competition to help design a new landmark for Irvine.

Lucy Hulbert, now in fourth year, has been named as the winner of a contest organised by Irvine Bay Regeneration Company to design a new weathervane for Trinity Church.

Watch a short film where Lucy talks about her winning entry.

The designs were part of a the Trinity Weathervane project which was run last year, and about 155 pupils from six schools took part - Greenwood Academy, Ardeer, Dreghorn, Towerlands, John Galt and Loudon Montgomery Primary Schools. A total of 80 submissions were received and experts from Historic Scotland, an architect and a creative artist formed the judging panel.

An exhibition of the work carried out for the project was held in the A-listed Trinity Church - which is being refurbished as part of the ongoing regeneration of Irvine town centre being carried out by the company in partnership with North Ayrshire Council. The work of the finalists can still be seen at the WAVE studio in Rivergate Shopping Centre.


Lucy received her award at a special information day being held for teachers from Irvine Bay today (Friday 1st February), explaining the work of the regeneration company and outlining the ways schools can become involved through the highly-praised Regeneration Youth schools engagement programme being run by Irvine Bay.

Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay, said: "The level of interest in the weathervane competition, and quality of the submissions, demonstrated the creativity and commitment of young people to their local area, and to being an active part of the regeneration work that is happening around them. Regeneration is more than bricks and mortar, and for these young people they know that the work is about creating a better future for them."

Christine McGuire, Head Teacher of Greenwood Academy said: "I am delighted to learn of Lucy's success and am very proud of her achievement. She is an extremely talented pupil and it is great to see that her design has been chosen by such a prestigious panel of judges. Her design will be on show for all to appreciate and will have historic significance in Irvine. We hope that this will inspire other pupils in Greenwood Academy and other schools in the local area."

(GK)