JOHN KYRLE High School student Louise Unitt had a pleasant surprise when a school competition to design a mug for the Queen's Jubilee resulted in a trip to Buckingham Palace.

The trip was organised by the Mayor of Ross. Louise travelled to London with her family and the Mayor and Mayoress to make the presentation of the mug at the Palace.

The group were met by police for a brief security check before being welcomed by a Palace secretary. They were taken through one of the great halls to a vast room with red carpet and a chandelier where the presentation took place.

Louise also told The Ross Gazette that she had not expected to go to Buckingham Palace. She said: "it's great to feel that what I have made will be around for hundreds of years."

Louise also thanked her art teacher, Mr Neil Carrol, for his help and encouragement. She is currently studying art at A-Level and working at Mary Rose Young Pottery in Lydney outside school hours.

The mug features a design which represents the Market House, as well as a hedgehog- the symbol of Ross. 1,800 local school children will each receive copies of the mug, which is also now available from the Mayor, the Heritage Centre, the Tourist Information Centre and The Ross Gazette shop. They will also be on sale during the Jubilee celebrations at the Larruperz centre on Saturday, February 6th.