Wooden Spoon : Regions : Suffolk Opens New Project at Thomas Wolsey School

On the 6th of July, Suffolk Wooden Spoon, now in its fourth year, was very pleased to celebrate the opening of a new playground extension at the Thomas Wolsey School in Ipswich, which was a direct result of a £10,000 donation from the committee. The new facility was opened by James Hehir, the Chief Executive of Ipswich Borough Council, a keen rugby fan who was also the driving force behind the new statue of Prince Obolensky, recently erected in Ipswich town centre.

The Thomas Wolsey School caters for about 100 pupils supported by some 30 staff. The school has recently moved to a new site attached to Thurleston High School. It is a special school for children with moderate to severe physical and associated learning difficulties but has already found enormous benefit from being part of the main stream school - both for the children at the main school and also for the children at Thomas Wolsey. The benefits of the interaction between the two have been considerable and children from each school have been able to do some of their studies in the other school.

The opening of the new play area really was a true opening as the project was only completed on the Friday before so it was wonderful to see the delight on the faces of the children at their new play facility. James Hehir said "Today is a very humbling and special occasion. Congratulations to all at Wooden Spoon for what they have achieved". Matthew Brackenbury, the deputy headteacher of the Thomas Wolsey School hosted the event and provided a very warm welcome to the guests which included James Hehir, the Chief Executive of Ipswich Borough Council, Chris Haworth (Chairman Suffolk Region), Alan Line (Treasurer Suffolk Region), David Ferdinand (Secretary Suffolk Region), David Ives (committee Member Suffolk Region) and Rachel Ives, Suzie Haworth (Development Manager Wooden Spoon UK), Brian Hodges (Project Coordinator Wooden Spoon UK) and members of staff of Thomas Wolsey School.

On Tuesday 8th May at Ping Pong on Bread Street, London, Wooden Spoon hosted the infamous Scrum Dine with Me sponsored by Aon Benfield. Nigel Barden, food commentator for Radio 2, was the fantastic host of the event where supporters of Spoon were able to watch rugby legends Phil Vickery MBE, Serge Betsen, Craig Chalmers and Luke Narraway prepare a four course Oriental masterpiece then taste it for themselves. The rugby players then went up against each other to be crowned the 2012 Scrum Dine with Me Champion.

Billed as 'a celebration of Ripon Rugby - Past, Present, and Future', the day kicked off early with a very well supported Mini Tag Rugby demonstration from the youngest members of the Ripon rugby community, Ripon's thriving Junior section. Youngsters from the Under7's and Under 8's all received a Wooden Spoon wristband presented by Ripon legend Peter Squires (England, Yorkshire, Harrogate and Barbarians) ably supported by the Junior Section's founder member Mike Pennock.

Yorkshire region's favourite Scot was back in God's Country and Ian Robertson was on great form as our MC aided by his lovely assistant Ellie. We'd not seen Ian for a few years so it was great to see him MC this ever popular event in York.

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