St Aidan's Church of England High School in Harrogate staged a 'Day at the Seaside' to fundraise for the work of ‘Away From It All Holidays’ (AFIA) – a charity run by Mothers’ Union to give families a chance to have a holiday by the sea.
Despite appalling weather - perhaps typical of the British Seaside - students paid to wear beach clothes instead of uniform for the day and three spectacular activities were held during break and lunch time:
• Teachers starred in a mock Punch and Judy battle. The loser got a custard pie in the face!
• Students paid to vote which teacher they would like to see buried in the sand.
• Lastly teams of teachers took part in a Donkey Derby hurdling over the course in wheelbarrows wearing donkey heads, cheered on by crowds of students.
A substantial amount of money raised to help children and families across the region enjoy ‘A day at the seaside’. And no teachers – only wallets - were harmed in the raising of this money.
The Seaside Day at St Aidan’s is part of a bigger fundraising project for ‘Away from it All Holidays’ which will see Mother’s Union member, Jane Newsome climb Table Mountain in South Africa on Easter Day. More on that later.