WHEN brothers Richard and David Boutell won last year’s Pride of the Borough of Tunbridge Wells award they chose to spend their £1,000 holiday prize on a trip to Paris.

The boys, from Hartley Road, Cranbrook, travelled to the French capital with their adoptive mother, Margaret, and disabled sister Natalie, 13.

It was their unstinting care for Natalie that won Richard, 13, and David, 12, the title and the Mayor’s Quaich, a silver trophy. They also earned £500 for Angley School, Cranbrook, where they are both pupils.

Their visit to Paris took place during four days in August last year. The family travelled by Eurostar and stayed at the Hotel McMahon, close to the Arc de Triomphe.

David later wrote about the trip and shared his account with the Kent Messenger Group to encourage others to take part in this year's competition.

He said: “We were delighted to be nominated and Paris was great. Temperatures were in the 90s throughout the whole trip.”

The family visited Sacre Coeur and the Eiffel Tower, the Royal palace at Versailles and took a Bateaux Mouche sightseeing trip along the River Seine.

David said: “During our stay we used the Metro as much as possible. This called for team work because Natalie was in her buggy. It was a case of one-two-three, up we go, and one-two-three, down we go because there were lots of stairs. But in time we braved the escalator and that was easier on our backs.”

The Boutells enjoyed a day out at Euro Disney during their stay and at Versailles were treated to a horse-and-carriage ride around the vast estate.

Later, David summed up the experience with the quiet modesty which so impressed the judges when they learned of the way in which the boys care for their sister. He said: “It was a lovely prize for looking after Natalie, which is our pleasure.”

If you know of a youngster up to the age of 15 who shows courage, caring or kindness in the way they conduct themselves, please tell us about them.

You can do so by completing the accompanying entry form, and attaching to it a brief account - maximum 250 words - saying why he or she should be honoured.

Entry forms can also be collected from Kent Messenger offices in Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone, and borough council offices in Tunbridge Wells and Cranbrook.

The main sponsors The Children's Mutual, in Abbey Court, St John's Road, Tunbridge Wells, is backing the Pride of the Borough with £1,000 worth of vouchers for a holiday of their choice for the winner and his or her family. It will also donate £500 to a bona fide school or youth group of the winner's choice, so that their friends can also share in their success.

The company is also happy to provide entry details. The closing date is March 31.

The competition was launched by the former mayor and mayoress of Tunbridge Wells, Robin and Diana Morton, and is supported by the present Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr Stanley Ward and his wife, Edith, the Kent Messenger Group, the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre, Tunbridge Wells, and the Odeon Cinema, Knights Park.

• For a nomination form and further details click onto the related website link below