Seven-year-old Clitheroe lockdown hero 'over the moon' to receive a letter from The Queen

It's been an eventful past 12 months for youngster Sonny Steventon, but the icing on the cake of a memorable year has been receiving a letter from Her Majesty, the Queen.
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Sonny, who is a Year 3 pupil at St James' Primary School, in Clitheroe, got through the first lockdown in March 2020 by painting rainbows and other colourful designs on pebbles/rocks to lift people's spirits and sold them on a daily basis on his doorstep in Woone Lane. He originally aimed to raise just £10 for the NHS, but the kind-hearted youngster ended up raising over £1,000! His neighbours, friends and passers-by were so impressed with Sonny's generosity, handiwork and enterprising initiative, they donated hundreds of pounds to support the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Always one to keep busy, in January, inspired by a school project about the Royal family, Sonny decided to write to the Queen.

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His mum, Amy, said: "When Sonny returned to school in January, one of his new topics was the Royal Family. This was part of his home school work for the next few weeks. He was interested to learn the fun facts about things like the weight of the crown for example or how many rooms there are in Buckingham Palace. He started to ask me questions like, has the Queen been in all of those rooms? So, he suggested that maybe he could ask her in a letter!"

Sonny is delighted to receive a reply from Her Majesty, the QueenSonny is delighted to receive a reply from Her Majesty, the Queen
Sonny is delighted to receive a reply from Her Majesty, the Queen

A month later, Sonny was amazed to receive a reply.

The Queen's lady-in-waiting was entrusted to write a reply. She wrote: "Dear Sonny, the Queen wishes me to write and thank you for your letter. Her Majesty was pleased to hear about the funds you have raised by selling your painted stones during the pandemic and, although unable to reply to you personally, the Queen was glad to know how much you have enjoyed learning about the Royal Family.

"Her Majesty hopes you and your family are keeping safe and well during the current situation, and that 2021 will be a happier year for us all.

"I am to thank you very much once again for writing as you did, and enclose some information leaflets which you may like to have."

Sonny with familySonny with family
Sonny with family
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Sonny's proud parents, Alex and Amy Steventon, said: "We were very surprised that Sonny had asked to write a letter to the Queen. He would always try to put off doing any writing work during homeschooling. What we found was if he had a purpose to write he was happy to do it, which has helped him really improve with his handwriting.

"He was over the moon to receive a reply from the Queen. However, he was hoping for some answers to his questions he had asked, but realises that she can't answer everything. Sonny has been keeping a scrapbook since the start of lockdown 2020 so a copy of his special Royal letter and the reply have gone in there. He has also written to David Attenborough after watching the 'Perfect Planet'."

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