Spooktacular pumpkins mark start of spooky season

A PUMPKIN competition took place on the final day of half-term at a primary school in Henley.

Six pupils at Valley Road Primary School were awarded prizes for their creative designs out of 60 entries last Friday.

Eva Floyd, 10, who is in Year 6, curated a pumpkin on a toilet with the help of her mum, having taken inspiration from an image they had found online.

Using a selection of old school items found around the house, including an old pair of tights and a yellow polo shirt, the creation depicted a pumpkin head reading a recipe book which was decorated with eyebrow pipe cleaners and googly eyes.

Eva said: “I just looked on Pinterest and had some help from my mum. It took quite a while to make, around two afternoons. It was tough carrying it but I took the pumpkin head separately from the rest of it.”

George Welburn, 10, created a pirate ship which was being sunk by a blue sea monster, inspired by the film Pirates of the Caribbean.

He carved out the top of the pumpkin into the shape of a ship. Then, resting it on a bed of foil to create stability, he inserted wooden chopsticks to mimic a pirate ship. He wrapped the foil in blue paper to create the monster, which is seen crawling into the base from the top.

George, who is in Year 6, said: “I did it because I thought no one else would do it and it would be quite unique. I didn’t expect to win but I was hoping to.”

George’s sister Leah, seven, who is in Year 3, made a spider using two pumpkins. She glued thin colourful paper on to the large pumpkin and added googly eyes to the smaller one. To make the legs, she wrapped aluminium foil around masking tape with different coloured tissue paper.

Isabelle Carruthers, 10, who is in Year 6, made a pumpkin burger using cardboard and paint. She said: “I did it in two afternoons. My mum cut a bit out of the middle for the burger and I painted it with acrylic twice because it was peeling off. I made the tomato, cheese and lettuce with cardboard and then just stuck the lid on top.”

Jasper Woodhouse, seven, who is in Year 3, made a red-painted pumpkin goblin. He said: “I carved the pumpkin’s eyes and I had to keep carving it because one part broke, so I had to redo it.

“After that, we cut a hole, put an orange in and painted it. I bought a witch’s hat and cut the green hair off it. I did most of it myself, but my mum helped me with the carving.”

Edward Watts, eight, who is in Year 4, made a mummy using toilet paper. He stuck the paper on with superglue and drew on it with a pen.

Headteacher Tim Coulson said picking the winners was difficult. He said: “It was started by one of our teaching assistants, Karen Allen, about seven years ago and taken over by the parent and teacher association. Any child can enter from reception upwards.

“It was incredibly difficult to choose the winners because the standard is incredibly high but it’s great fun. We could have picked any of them but I looked for ideas and a sense of fun and enjoyment.

“I just went with my heart because I’m an emotional man.”