News

A TOP international rugby team from Kenya visited Merchant Taylors School in Northwood to host a training session for students.

The Kenya Rugby Sevens, one of the teams competing in the London Sevens tournament at Twickenham this weekend, were in need of a pitch to train on before their opening match. In exchange, players shared some of the secrets of the sport with boys at the school grounds in Sandy Lodge, together with fellow pupils from St Martins School, and St John's School. Chris Lehane, director of sport at Merchant Taylors, said: "The team spent about an hour training, before playing a short game of touch rugby with the boys, then joining us for lunch.

"The boys were very excited when they found out the team were visiting and were thrilled to watch some of the world's best rugby players in action." Frank McDonald, of the rugby football union, added: "Sevens is more a game of skills and speed rather than 15-a-side rugby. "One of the key factors of the game is the work done by volunteers, people who give up their time for no money. Without them, it couldn't operate.

"Rugby has always been a friendly game, that's what it is all about." The visit was organised in conjunction with Wooden Spoon, a charity which aims to improve the quality of life for children and young people who are disadvantaged mentally, physically or socially. As a note of thanks, the school made a £250 donation to the charity, which will go towards a project building a sensory room at Clarendon School, a special needs school in Hampton, Surrey.

Projects Completed

Alexandra School - £36,800

Middlesex Spoon extended a South Harrow special needs school's hall and provided tiered seating. The extension also meant that the school kitchen was increased in size

Coteford School - £20,000

Spoon has improved the school's playground to break up wide open spaces and provide some fine play and learning opportunities, especially for disadvantaged pupils.

Lindon Bennett School -£30,000

Spoon provided a new playground and a swing for wheelchairs at this special school.

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital - £250,000

Raised £250,000 over five years to build a Wooden Spoon Children's and Baby Unit.

Richmond House - £30,000

The neglected school and its grounds suffered over many years and wasn't conducive to achieving commitment from its severely disadvantaged pupils. The Wooden Spoon funded renovation created a playground which makes best use of the available space and has provided a facility the pupils have taken ownership of and benefited from.