THREE students at St Polycarp’s Catholic Primary School in Waverley Lane were recently presented with prizes for the best letters written to seafarers as part of ‘Sea Sunday 2015’.

Catholic charity Apostleship of the Sea, which provides practical and pastoral help to seafarers visiting British ports, had asked the school to participate in their annual fundraising day last July by writing letters with poems, drawings and prayers for seafarers.

The school responded enthusiastically, with all students submitting a wide range of colourful compositions. About 30 of the best were displayed around the walls of St Joan of Arc Catholic church on Sea Sunday, resulting in the largest ever collection for the charity from the parish.

Headteacher Ann Gunn said “the school always enjoys being part of the parish celebrations, and the children were delighted that they were able to make such a valuable contribution”.

The prizes were presented by parish representative for Apostleship of the Sea Alastair Emblem, who also works part time in the charity’s fundraising department.

“The prizes are just a small way of saying thank you to the school, and the competition is a way of encouraging the young people to think about the importance of caring for the seafarers whose work is so demanding yet so unappreciated.

“The majority of seafarers are from places like the Philippines, and are away from home nine months at a time working in terrible conditions to bring us 95 per cent of all the goods we consume and use in this country.”