WINNERS of a national Bramley Apple writing competition were announced recently at a ceremony marking the 400th anniversary of British trading links with Japan.

On March 27, a tall ship sailed into Sutton Harbour, Plymouth, to re-enact the return to England of John Saris, Captain of the Clove, who first landed in Plymouth 400 years ago. The event, the Homecoming of the Clove, was the highlight spectacle of a five-day celebration of Anglo-Japanese relations — Japan400 Plymouth.

Just before the homecoming event, Buckland Monachorum resident Celia Steven, Bramley Apple ambassador (pictured below), donated two saplings — an English apple and a Japanese cherry — to Plymouth University's history department, which initiated the Japan400 Plymouth celebrations with partners locally, nationally and internationally.

In the run-up to the event, children from West Devon were invited to enter the Japan400 Plymouth Young Artists' and Writers' Bramley Apple competition.

The organisers were delighted to have received such a rich crop of entries from across the country.

From more than 200 entries, Florence Harris from London was chosen as national overall winner.

The national Manga first prize was given to Crystal Zhou from Mount Kelly, the local poetry second prizes were awarded to Imogen Weatherby and Amelie White, both from St Andrew's Primary in Buckland Monachorum and Morgan Martin from Gulworthy Primary School. Local Art second prizes were awarded to Alanna Cuffe and Ben Madar, both from St Andrew's and highly commended poetry prizes were awarded to Poppy Hearne, from Tavistock Library, Joseph Trimmer, Megan Woock, Neil Hunt, Henry Howell, Aiya Zaleski, Annie Woock, Jessica Griffiths, Eden Houlberg and Ben Hughes, all from St Andrew's. Art highly commended was awarded to John Perry of St Andrew's.