STAFF from a Derby school brought a touch of glamour to the city as they attended a fundraising ball at a popular hotel and restaurant.
Ten months of fundraising by parent Anita Morrison, whose son Oliver (6) attends St Giles School, and friend Noreen Tristram were brought to a spectacular close with the ball, held at The Farmhouse, Mackworth, taking the total raised to an incredible £15,000.
Entertainment on the night was provided by Soldiers of Swing; Corporal Lee Day and Sergeant Vince Fountain, the latest singing duo to hit the auditions for the next episode of The Voice. There was a table magician wowing guests with his tricks while Twisted Aperture captured the evening with impressive photography.
Fundraising for St Giles began last year with a Christmas Fayre, where staff from the Oaklands family restaurant and pub – the Littleover establishment which is managed by Noreen Tristram – performed a version of White Christmas using Makaton; a form of communication which uses symbols and speech and is commonly used at St Giles.
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Noreen Tristram and Anita Morrison have held further events raising money for St Giles – Derby’s only special primary school – including a breakfast at the Oaklands with characters from children’s TV show Paw Patrol.
Money raised by the pair will go towards a much-needed set of wheels, which will be used to take youngsters to their weekly sensory swimming lessons, horse riding sessions, art therapy and Forest School programme, held at a nearby mainstream school.
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Executive head teacher Clive Lawrence said: “We are extremely lucky here at St Giles to have some wonderful parents, carers and friends of the school who organise such fundraising events, for which we’re really grateful.
“We have been in need of transport for a while now and look forward to taking delivery of the brand-new Citreon very soon.”
Anita Morrison said she has been overwhelmed with the support for St Giles from the community.
She said: “Oliver has Downs Syndrome; his speech is delayed and he has mild hearing loss. He has, since joining St Giles School, progressed so much and the fundraising was my way of saying thank you and giving something back to this wonderful school.”
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