Date at Windsor Castle awaited Peyton after making the final of the BBC 500 Words contest for a second year
Sharing a fun moment with Sir Lenny Henry at Windsor Castle is Peyton Kershaw, 7, from Goole(Image: supplied image)
A seven-year-old from Goole has made the final of the BBC 500 Words creative writing competition for the second year in a row, winning her a visit to Windsor Castle and a meeting with the Queen and stars of stage and TV. Peyton Kershaw was a finalist in the five to seven age category with her story Ralf’s Big Racing Dream.
She was invited to the final and reception at Windsor, along with her mum Natalie, by Queen Camilla, on Wednesday (February 25). It was the second time Peyton had enjoyed a right royal occasion – she made it through to the final 50 of the contest last year when she got to visit Buckingham Palace.
Peyton said: “I loved going to Windsor Castle this time after going to Buckingham Palace last year. It was really sunny and we got to take lots of pictures outside.
“I got to meet the Queen again. She shook my hand and I told her I’d made the final last year as well. She made me promise her that I would enter again this year to see if I could make the final for a third time.”
The Year 3 pupil at Parkside Primary School, Goole, said: “My favourite part of the day was meeting the Gladiators, but especially Diamond. She is my favourite Gladiator so I was so excited to meet her.
“She was so nice, we had pictures and she gave me a hug. I also met Steel who was really nice and gave me a high five.
“I met so many celebrities while I was there. I met Alex Jones and Roman Kemp, and Alex said she remembered us from last year. She said she really liked my dress, too.”
“I also spoke to Lenny Henry who was really funny. He said that if there was a prize for the best dressed person I would get that because he loved my dress so much. He also loved that I had been at the final two years in a row.
“Bradley and Barney Walsh were really nice, I spoke to them for ages. I love them because they present Gladiators and we love to watch that on a Saturday night.
“I couldn’t wait to go to school on Thursday and tell all my friends about meeting them and Diamond and Steel.” Peyton, who has a four-year-old brother, Maddox, and a two-year-old sister, Harlow, loves reading, writing and being creative, according to her parents, Tom and Natalie Kershaw. Her favourite books to read lately have been The Tracy Beaker trilogy and the Diary of A Wimpy Kid series.
Peyton said: “I really like the Horrid Henry series and I got to meet Francesca Simon who is the author. I told her I really like her books and that I’d made the final last year too.
“She was really proud and said she wondered if she’d see me next year as well. Paddington Bear performed a song from the musical – that was so good.
“Then at the reception they were serving marmalade sandwiches on silver trays under a red Paddington hat.”
The three winning stories in each age category were read out by Jodie Whittaker, Joanna Page, Sara Cox, Bradley and Barney Walsh, Big Zuu and Paterson Joseph. The grand final was hosted by The One Show’s Alex Jones and Roman Kemp, and the six winning stories will be revealed in a special edition of The One Show on Friday, March 6.
The competition was judged by Rose Ayling-Ellis, Sir Lenny Henry, Francesca Simon, Charlie Higson and Malorie Blackman, who also attended the ceremony. During the ceremony, there were performances from Paddington who sang The Explorer and The Bear, from Paddington The Musical, delighting guests of all ages, and West End star Marisha Wallace followed with a powerful performance of A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman.
Peyton, who enjoys gymnastics at WhiteRose Gymnastics in Goole and loves running, taking part in the weekly junior parkrun at Brayton Academy, took the inspiration for her story entry from visits to Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Her mum Natalie said: “I couldn’t believe it when I got the call to say she was a finalist again.
“To make the final once is such an incredible achievement, but to do it two years in a row is just unbelievable. It’s been such a whirlwind few weeks since we found out, and it has been so hard to keep a secret. We are all so very proud of her.”
Natalie said everyone they spoke to from 500 Words could not believe Peyton had made the final two years in a row – the judges do not know anything about who writes each story, other than the age category that they fall into.
“Someone said if she makes it for a third time they’ll have to get her a special plaque,” said Natalie. “It was so nice this year to go to Windsor Castle, after visiting Buckingham Palace last year.
“Getting to go inside such prestigious buildings and meet royalty is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but we’ve been able to do it twice. Peyton absolutely loves reading and writing, she is always walking around with a book in her hand.
“She is so creative and has such a fantastic imagination, so for her stories to have made the final two years in a row makes us so proud. Her younger brother will be old enough to enter this year, and he wants to write a story to see if he can get to the final like Peyton.
“Peyton said she wants to keep entering every year until she is 11. There was a family there this year who had three children all in the final, so maybe we could be the same in a few years?”
Natalie added: “Everyone involved in the event was just so lovely, all the celebrities and judges and BBC team. It’s such a nice afternoon and really is so special.
“Alex Jones said she recognised us and remembered us from last year, so that was lovely. She said she’d seen us during the ceremony and had been trying to work out where she knew us from.
“It was so lovely to meet Queen Camilla again. She couldn’t believe that Peyton had been there last year, too.
“She shook our hands and said she hoped to see us next year, too. She made Peyton promise that she would write another story and enter it again.”
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