Star backing for school's bid to buy new minibus

Apr 12 2005

By Nicola Rider, The Newcastle Evening Chronicle

Email: Nicola.Rider@ncjmedia.co.uk

Donations will be auctioned to raise cash

A geordie auction is being staged to fund a new school minibus.

Memorabilia donated by a host of Tyneside celebs is being sold of to raise cash for Gibside School, in Whickham, Gateshead.

Items up for grabs include a signed NUFC flag and an original Auf Wiedershen Pet script, signed by Tim Healy, one of the stars of the show.

The auction will be held on April 30.

Shona Chambers, who has organised the gifts, said: "The script was donated by Denise Welch's dad and we have got a signed shirt from Paul Gascoigne.

"Jimmy `Five Bellies' Gardner is delivering the items to the school himself and we have also been given a signed CD and photo from Sting. The school's two existing mini buses are very old. One has just failed its MoT.

"It kept breaking down when it was taking the children on visits."

The school needs £11,500 for the bus and have raised £8,000 so far.

They are hoping the auction will raise the final £3,000 needed.

Pupils at the school are aged between four and 11 years old and all 90 of the them have learning difficulties.

The new 14 seater bus will have a tailgate at the back for wheelchair access. Mrs Chambers said: "We raised money in July last year for a sensory garden for the children."

"We went to Kingston Park last weekend to do a bucket collection and we are holding a Summer Fun Day in July in the school grounds."

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So how do WE put in our bids ?!?!

Dear Green

Forgive my tardiness, but I've only returned to the office today after a
few days away.

Nicola Rider is based in our training centre and can be contacted on +44 (0) 191 201 6039.

Sorry the contact details weren't included in the piece - obviously they
should have been.

If there's anything else I can help you with, please don't hesitate to
contact me.

Best wishes
Mick Smith
Assistant editor
Email: Mick.Smith@ncjmedia.co.uk