AWARDS were handed out to budding photographers at the presentation of the Tavyside Patients’ Association (TPA) Young Photographer of the Year awards earlier this month (October).

On behalf of the Tavyside Health Centre the chairman of the TPA, Barbara Greig, welcomed everyone to the fifth annual awards evening and told all present that around 80 photographs had been submitted to this year’s competition.

The pictures from the category winners were on display at the event and an exhibition of all the work submitted is being arranged with Tavistock College for some time in the near future.

Mrs Greig said it had taken the judges some time to come to their decision as the standard of work had been high and congratulated all the entrants for their work and skill. She thanked to TPA sponsors, Eric Reynolds who continues to cover the cost of the awards in memory of his wife Maureen and Dartmoor Photographic for producing and providing the pictures for the overall winner. The TPA also thanked Tavistock College and the students for producing a poster promoting the competition and all schools supporting their students who entered were also congratulated. James Bird, Peter Tulloch and Keith Urro were also thanked for judging the competition.

Mrs Greig explained to the young people present that one of the main reasons for holding the competition and the awards ceremony at the Tavyside Health Centre was to help young people feel more comfortable in visiting any medical facility or talking to any medical personnel in the future.

The awards were then handed out to those winners present with the judges offering a few words of advice along the way, after which practice manager Dene Medland accepted the winning picture on aluminium for display in the centre.

Winners: Age 10 to 14 — In the garden, 1, Issy Dunlop, 2, Alex Sun; Holiday, 1, Ewan Dix, 2, Amy Brimacombe; Wildlife, 1, Libby Kerswill, 2, Zi Thompson; Weather, 1, Zi Thompson, 2, Zi Thompson. Overall age group winner, Zi Thompson aged 10.

Age 15 to 18 — In the Garden, 1, Susie Jiang, 2, Emily Farrington; Holiday, 1, Charlie Hardy, 2, Amanda Cam; Wildlife, 1, Shanelle Bowyer, 2, William Dax; Weather, William Dax, 2, Emily Farrington. Overall age group winner, Charlie Hardy.

Overall winner was 16-year-old Charlie Hardy who received the Maureen Reynolds Shield and a canvas print of her winning picture.