PUBLISHED 29 November 2024
The Games Night was held for the fourth time on Friday night. The award winning concept carries on with the work of 6th form volunteers from Bring Me Sunshine (a student led group) which ensures a smooth running. A special mention must go to Oliver Shakespeare for his fabulous ‘Name That Tune’. Another highlight is the incredible generosity of local businesses and individuals, such as Bosco, Funny Girls, Snapes of Freckleton Butchers and Clayton’s the Jewellers, Kelly Akers Photography, and the Murray family some of these have supported all four occasions. Some friends and colleagues have also attended every event, some have never attended but contribute greatly to the raffle prizes.
It was great to see some new faces experience the frustration of a ‘Beetle Drive’ and the tactics of ‘Sevens’. ‘Play Your Cards Right’ was especially cruel with not a single winner all night. Christine, an original member of Just Good Friends, read two of her poems about how this local charity helped her at a particular low point in her life, an incredibly moving moment but also one that justified what the evening was all about. A record sum was raised which will easily fund a year’s activities between AKS and JGF.
This event was followed by 100 members of JGF visiting the school for a Christmas fancy afternoon tea. This has developed into a great couple of hours entertainment, with singing from ‘Sweeney Todd’ including a show-stopping duet. Crackers were pulled, the parcel was passed and a beetle was driven.
The one thing that we have developed over many events is the gift of time, time to sit and chat and laugh. Students from Year 7 to 13 joined a table after serving afternoon teas, to share stories and experiences and develop different communication skills. Its my favourite part of the afternoon just to see the smiles and hear the buzz of conversation.
This isn’t the end of term as far as the students work with JGF as we are aiming for a Christmas number one! Please click on the link!
And at the end of term we will welcome 50 members back to watch a Murder Mystery performed by JGF in the drama studio, with enormous thanks to Rachael Gill Davies, an OAK and star of Emmerdale for directing this play.
Graeme McIntyre