A visit to Middle-Earth to see the Elves

An invite from Ann Robinson (Headteacher at Buttsbury Junior School) dropped into our in-tray at the end of November 2024.  “We’re doing a Sponsored Elf Run during the last week of term - times and details are attached, if you are free to come down and … see us in action!”  Year Three and Four would run on Monday December 16, and Year five and six would run on Tuesday December 17.

Needless to say, we were delighted to accept, and President-Elect Stephen King went along for the second day to see the event in action.  Stephen reports what happened.

“Buttsbury School always seems to come up with innovative ideas for their fund-raising activities. Last year the whole school was preoccupied with learning how to rotate a hoop around the waist without it falling to the ground, in preparation for the sponsored hula hoop-a-thon. So, I was intrigued to discover what this year’s novel fund-raising initiative would be.”

Tall Hats Bent Backwards

“As I walked on to the playground on an overcast but dry December 17, I could not fail to notice that every child was wearing a tall green and red hat with a red bobble on top.  Of course, it was the Buttsbury sponsored Elf Run. Classes 5T and 5P were rushing around the perimeter of the playground as fast as they could with their tall hats bent backwards from the speed of their running.

Teachers were positioned at the corners of the course to ensure no one took any shortcuts.  Not that I noticed anyone trying, as there was an air of enthusiasm and fun from the kids. Teachers with their clipboards were marking off every child’s completed lap. Not an easy task when a whole group came along together.”

“The fifteen-minute run was soon over, and children were clustered around teachers asking, ‘how many laps did I do Sir’. Then time for class photos and then back to middle-earth lessons for the elf children.”

A Great Sponsorship Effort

“The admirable thing about these fund-raising activities is that everyone in the school gets to take part over the course of the morning, no one is left out. Parents, grandparents and other family members will have agreed in advance to sponsor so much per lap. Once the laps for each child had been totted up, a note was sent home to the parent so they could pay their sponsorship money.”

“A great sponsorship effort in aid of St Luke’s Hospice, with over £1900 already raised and more to come.“

Well done to all at Buttsbury School.

By Steve King

(This wasn’t the end of Buttsbury Junior School endeavours at the end of 2024 in support of St. Luke’s Hospice.

The Year 5 choir was invited to sing outside St. Luke’s Hospice shop in Holly Court (just off the High Street) in December to raise money for this very worthy cause.  The children walked the 1.5 miles there and back, and had a great time singing lots of carols and traditional songs to passers by - everyone said it really helped them get into the spirit of Christmas.  Many of their parents came along to watch too, and the walk back was spurred on by a small bag of Haribos each - a little thank you from St. Luke’s.  The result - they collected over £70 extra.)