As I conclude my fourth and final year at the helm
of the Friends, and my first year working with Stephen and Amanda Symonds, I am
delighted to report the past twelve month’s have proved to be another resounding
success story for the Friends of Tockington Manor School.
We have (to name but a few items) secured sufficient
funds to reshape a dedicated infant outside learning area, designed and purchased a new adventure playground and bought blinds for the newly decorated school hall. In
addition, we have seen a record number of parents joining our ranks and because
of this we have been rewarded with yet another successful twelve months of fundraising during what has proved to be the busiest year yet of my FOTM
chairmanship.
This is how we did it.
In the Summer term of 2013 we rolled up our sleeves to sell
ice creams and lollies at the end of the school day and raised further funds by
hosting the Tovey’s farewell disco for the whole school by selling yet more
ice-creams, along with sweets, teas, and cakes. We also co-hosted (with the help
of the Old Tockingtonians) a farewell summer event to celebrate Richard and Jane
Tovey’s thirty eight years of dedication to Tockington Manor School. Our Night
with the Stars Ball attracted in excess of three hundred sixty guest from all
corners of the globe and was not only a very fitting manner in which to say
goodbye to Richard and Jane but it was a very enjoyable way in which to spend,
what proved to be, a fabulous summers evening.
The Autumn term of 2013 saw us welcome the new TMS
headmaster, Stephen Symonds and his wife Amanda and I would like to take this
opportunity, on behalf of the Friends, to say how pleased we are to have you both
on board.
We kicked off our Friends duties in September by
hosting Harvest Festival teas which were held in the now newly decorated front
hall and mezzanine area outside the school dining room. Although this was not a
fund raising event, it provided a great opportunity for the Friends to promote
our work and meet other parents.
A little later in the same term we held our curry
and quiz night. It was a complete sell out and not only did it tease our brains
and expand our waistbands with delicious homemade Indian cuisine, but it raised
a very respectable sum for our coffers too.
Quiz Night was closely followed by our Bonfire Night
celebration at which we served everything from hot chocolate to hot dogs while
a disco, the bar and the most enormous bonfire provided entertainment for all
who attended.
We rounded the Autumn term off by making cakes and selling
them at our bake sale with tea and coffee while the children were occupied with
face painting, biscuit decoration etc. This also proved to be both a very
lucrative and sociable event.
The Spring term of 2014 was equally busy.
Just like Quiz Night our Burn’s Night was once again
a complete sell out. The dining room was transformed into the perfect dining
experience and a fantastic evening of entertainment was laid on and enjoyed by
all who attended.
A little later in the term we encouraged parents and
children alike to clear out their cupboards and by doing so raised further
funds with Cash for Clothes. Then, in the final week of the Spring term, we
sold drinks in the intervals at the school's production of The Wizard of Oz.
The Friends of Tockington Manor are clearly going
from strength to strength and, although I will not be hanging up my chairman’s
hat for a little while yet, I would like to take this opportunity to say how
pleased and proud I am to have had the chance to be part of the Friends
success.
All that remains for me to say is,
“ I thank you all”.
