An edgy photograph taken from the top of an iconic British building beat more than 10,000 holidaymakers’ pictures to snap up a fabulous holiday of a lifetime – thanks to Thomas Cook’s Facebook fans.
Proving age is no barrier when it comes to showing the true explorer spirit, competition winner Gill Camm’s stunning photograph of her son enjoying the jaw-dropping 380ft view from the Blackpool Tower clinched the most votes in the £20,000 “It is a Wonderful World” dream holiday competition.
Spirited Competition
The photographic flurry of entries over three months, which averaged nearly 100 pictures a day as the competition captured the nation’s imagination, showcased snaps from holidaymakers enjoying the surf in Los Hervideros on their cheap holiday to Lanzarote to pictures ranging from the sweeping plains of Africa to the desert landscapes of America.
The Facebook competition was designed to find a deserving winner who embodied the same exploring spirit as Mr Thomas Cook – who first founded the travel company in 1841 – and someone who wanted to share their experiences with others.
Thomas Cook customers and some of the UK’s most respected independent travel experts had the almost impossible task of creating a short-list of six photographs they felt best showed this explorer’s spirit, before handing over the final decision to the public to vote on.
Mum’s the Word
For readers of a nervous nature, rest assured Gill’s son was safe and sound for his winning photo call, as he looked down on the seaside town from the enclosed observation platform, supported by half a ton of laminated glass.
On being told she’d scooped the top prize Gill revealed the family were understandably “thrilled to bits”.
Mother-of-two, Gill added: “Wooo hoo! Thank you ever so much for picking our photo and thank you for everyone who voted for it!
“The top of our list of places to go will be Disney World; our two children will love it there. We’re so proud and happy that our photo has won! Thank you so much everyone.”
It’s a Wonderful World is Gill’s Oyster
The £20,000 prize can be spent on any Thomas Cook holiday that Gill desires whether it is a holiday to the USA, home of Disneyland as she has intimated or a sun-soaked holiday to the Balearics. Helping Gill and the family decide will be a dedicated Thomas Cook Signature travel advisor, who will be on hand to her make all of the arrangements.
And having already shown her prowess, Gill will be given a digital film camera to record parts of her trip and post to the Facebook page for members to see.
We will be reviewing the competition on the Thomas Cook blog over the next few weeks, so watch this space for more information on some of the photographs which captured the imagination over the last few months.
