THE old adage perseverance pays off has been proved to an 11-year-old boy in the shape of a £1,200 computer, compliments of Wharfedale Newspapers.

Throughout last year, we ran a monthly chronicle page where pupils had to write a diary about their daily lives during 1999.

Along with dozens of children across Wharfedale, David Bodsworth and 25 of his classmates at Pool Primary school began the project, but as his classmates dropped out, David continued to put the effort in and this week got his just reward.

He was presented with the Hewlett Packard PC computer, separate speakers and a host of software by Wharfedale Newspapers assistant editor James Wills after his completed project was picked as a winner from all the other entries.

It is the most expensive prize ever won by a pupil at the school and David's teacher, Janet Hickman, said: "He put a lot of work and effort into the project and now it has now paid off. It meant a lot of work for him to do at home and he did need some encouragement but now he has got his reward."

His mother, Rosalind, added: "It is an absolutely marvellous prize and is a lesson to every child - if you put a lot of effort in, you will get your reward."

James Wills said: "The idea behind the project was to encourage

literary pursuits in pupils and at the same time make them more

familiar with newspapers. The diary theme also fitted in with the national curriculum.

"Any 12-month project requires hard work and perseverance and we wanted to make sure the prize reflected that. We hope the computer will give David and his family a lot of pleasure, and help him with his studies in future years."

l The computer was supplied to Wharfedale Newspapers by Saberbanner of Drighlington.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.