A six-year-old Nottingham primary school pupil came face to face with a ferocious Tyrannosaurus Rex after winning a competition to pick the sculpture’s name.
Pupils from Fernwood Primary and Nursery School, in Arleston Drive, Wollaton, Nottingham, were tasked with choosing names for two large Tyrannosaurus Rex and Pterodactyl sculptures, which have been installed in the city centre for the summer.
Six-year-old Daniel Huett was crowned the winner after picking two extraordinary names for the dinosaurs.
Roary, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, who is located on Lister Gate near intu Broadmarsh Centre, and Squawkers, the Pterodactyl, who is on Carlton Square in Hockley.
Taking the highly commended runner-up position is student Thomas Graham, 10, who picked the names Lucius for the Tyrannosaurus Rex, meaning strong, and Titus for the Pterodactyl, meaning defender.
Both pupils met the dinosaurs for the first time on Tuesday morning at the Lister Gate location.
Seeing his named Tyrannosaurus Rex, Daniel, from Wollaton, said: “I really like him. He’s really big and scary. I picked the name Roary because of his pointy teeth and I picked Squawkers for the Pterodactyl because of his long beak and large wings.”
Grandmother Pat Bishop popped along with Daniel to the city centre, and was thrilled that he had won the competition.
The 66-year-old, who lives in Derby, said: “We’re really proud of him. It’s fantastic. He’s always loved dinosaurs and has had an interest in them. His favourite television programme is Walking with Dinosaurs.”
Runner-up Thomas was always excited at seeing the sculptures for the very first time. The pupil, from Wollaton, said: “I really like them. It’s a very good creation and it’s quite cool how it’s made out of wire. It’s unusual.”
These aren’t the only dino creations that have popped up in Nottingham – a third dinosaur, the aquatic Plesiosaurus, is now situated on Maid Marian Way near Nottingham Castle and has been given the name Ayupmeduckosaurus. This was decided on by the public via a social media competition held by It’s in Nottingham.
The city centre dinosaurs have been organised by It’s in Nottingham and will be holidaying in the city until the end of September.
The dinosaurs make up this year’s Urban Intervention scheme from the Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID), the organisation behind It’s in Nottingham. These initiatives are organised every year with the aim of attracting visitors to the city centre, enhancing the area and supporting surrounding businesses.
The city centre dinosaurs also tie in with the Dinosaurs of China exhibition, which is being held at Wollaton Hall and Lakeside Arts Centre in Nottingham from the start of July.
The sculptures have been made out of galvanised steel wire by sculptor Emma Stothard.
A trail has been created with a printed and digital map, taking guests on a Jurassic journey of discovery around all three installations. This will be available to pick up for free from Nottingham Tourism Centre, in Smithy Row, and various city centre businesses, as well as being downloadable from the It’s in Nottingham website.
Those who pick up the map can be in with a chance of winning a £50 gift voucher for popular independent restaurant Annie’s Burger Shack, in Broadway, by simply filling in the included dinosaur-themed wordsearch. Completed entries can be handed in at Nottingham Tourism Centre.
Anthony Thomas, the junior head of school at Fernwood Primary & Nursery School said: “Daniel and Thomas were delighted when I told them the wonderful news. We are all so proud of them. I know that the children at Fernwood are all looking forward to the forthcoming exhibits and that dino-fever will soon set in across Nottingham.”
People on the dinosaur trail are being encouraged to get involved in a weekly social media competition, where users can upload a selfie with one of the three dinosaur sculptures to be in with a chance of winning a different goody bag each week worth over £50. They simply have to use the dedicated hashtag #Chinasaurs17 and tag @itsinnnottingham.
For more information about the It’s in Nottingham Dinosaurs, visit: www.itsinnottingham.com/dinosaurs.
