Pupils to be given special postal cover

Caring civic chiefs have given their stamp of approval for the creation of a special first-day cover which will be franked to commemorate the historic beginning of a new century.

It is the largest single public initiative the local authority has undertaken since 1936 when a special coin was struck to mark the borough gaining its Royal Charter.

Every infant and junior school pupil will be eligible to receive one of the cherished covers.

Special arrangements have been made with the Royal Mail for the dating of the first day covers. Each will bear a frank that has been designed by Eastleigh Council to mark January 1, 2000.

The envelopes, which feature a montage of colourful images, depict a pictorial history of the borough.

They were designed by teenagers Abby Shaw, from Eastleigh's Alderman Quilley School and Gareth Pullen, a pupil at Hamble School, who were winners of a competition to design the first day covers.

Council spokesman Steve Collins said: "I believe the Post Office is not producing a first day cover so it looks as if ours could be unique.

"We wanted to do something special to mark the millennium and at the same time involve children. We have been delighted with the response.

"All the kids will have a keepsake to mark this special occasion.

"The first-day covers will be sent to infant and junior schools and each child will address their own envelope and stick on a stamp before they are returned to the council to have the date franked."

Eastleigh mayor Jane Welsh praised the initiative, which has cost around £500. She said: "I was hoping we would do something for our young people and we are delighted to be able to carry out this gesture on behalf of the borough," she said.

"Involving children in the next millennium gives them something to remember the 1900s.

The initiative has had the full support of the council."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.