Artistic Dagenham nine-year-old bags chance to open new Barking Asda
Kelly Wenborne, Harry Turner and Ricky Lavell with a picture of the bag - Credit: Archant
Artwork designed by a nine-year-old boy from Dagenham could soon find its way into households across the borough after it won a supermarket design competition.
The new Asda store in Barking - Credit: Archant
Eastbury Primary pupil Harry Turner won a borough-wide design competition to create a line of special bags for life at Barking’s new Asda store.
Designed to celebrate the opening of the North Street, which will welcome in its first customers on Thursday, September 3, and as part of his prize Harry will help cut the red ribbon.
Mum Kelly Wenbourne, 36, a teaching assistant at Barking Abbey school, was extremely proud of her son’s achievement.
“I was over the moon when we found out.
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“We’ll probably end up buying loads for family and friends – that’ll be our Christmas and birthday presents sorted for while.”
Drawing-mad Harry hopes to be an archeologist or a goalkeeper for Chelsea FC when he’s older and was equally pleased .
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“My mum got a phonecall to say I had won and she was almost crying when she told me,” he said. “Her face was really red.
“I never expected to win so it was really exciting, but I do like drawing. I’m always drawing in class, even when I’m not supposed to be.”
The opening of the new superstore signals the closure of the current Vicarage Field site which is likely to be re-let by the shopping mall’s new owners.
All 200 Asda employees are transferring to the store, with another 150 set to be hired for the multi-million pound retail hub.
Peter Cornforth, director of retail at Benson Elliot, who bought Vicarage Field for £35million in June, insists the move is good news for everyone.
“It is an exciting opportunity,” he said.
“We strongly believe in the growth and potential of Barking town centre and want to ensure that the centre’s retail offer keeps pace with evolving shopping trends and local aspirations.
“We are looking to re-let Asda’s space in the shopping centre as quickly as possible and are confident of achieving this given our strong retail expertise and existing relationships with retailers across our UK portfolio.”
