A crowning achievement for Sandy

Jewel in the crown . . . Sandy Gardner’s award-winning postcard

Design scoops People’s Choice award

A POSTCARD designed by an Oldham art teacher has been voted the best representation of Manchester’s spirit.

Sandy Gardner, who teaches at Grange School, was named as the People’s Choice at the Capture Manchester exhibition, which saw more than 600 photographs go on display.

The competition was staged by law-firm DLA Piper and CUBE Gallery, in partnership with Marketing Manchester and photography network RedEye, to showcase inspiring images of the city.

Sandy’s image, which depicts many of Manchester’s iconic buildings arranged in the shape of a crown, was voted the favourite by visitors to the exhibition, winning her a £500 prize.

It was a double success for the school as one of Sandy’s pupils, 14-year-old Aminur Alam, was among the nine original Capture Manchester winners selected by a panel of judges before the exhibition was launched.

Sandy said: “I wanted to create ‘The Crown Jewels of Manchester’ because so many of the city’s buildings either sparkle in the sun like gem stones or have a captivating architectural beauty.

“I was already over the moon when Aminur was announced as one of the nine original winners and I’m delighted to be named the People’s Choice.”

Simon Woolley, office managing partner at DLA Piper, said: “We’ve been thrilled by just how popular the Capture Manchester exhibition has been. Sandy’s design obviously strikes a chord with the great sense of pride that many of us feel towards the look and feel of the city.”

All of the images featured in the exhibition have been captured in a commemorative book which is available to buy on-line at www.capturemanchester.com for £14.99.

It is also available from the CUBE Gallery, Urbis and Manchester’s network of tourist information centres.