Parents’ black-tie ball raises £9,000 for primary school

A CHARITY ball raised more than £9,000 for a primary school in Henley.

The Friends of Trinity School hosted the annual fundraising dinner at Badgemore Park.

Almost 100 parents, teachers and supporters attended the black-tie event, which comprised a three-course meal, raffle, auction and dancing.

On arrival, guests enjoyed a drinks reception in the club courtyard before sitting down for speeches in the dining room.

The event was compèred by parent Andrew Downing, who hosted various fundraising games including heads or tails and a raffle.

Auction prizes that had been donated included a signed Taylor Swift 1989 album, a signed copy of Definitely Maybe by Oasis and signed pictures of Pelé and Tiger Woods. Headteacher Charlotte Whittle thanked the guests for helping the Vicarage Road school pay for extracurricular activities such as school trips for the children and new learning equipment such as electronic devices with adjustable cameras which enable teachers to display a video feed on a smart board in real-time for interactive lessons.

She said: “It’s so wonderful for a school to have an event like this that really brings the whole school community together.

“Despite Trinity being a full school budgets are tight everywhere so the additional funding and the support that we get from FOTS is so important.

“The staff are so grateful. It really makes the job of the teachers so much easier and they’re so inspired by the help that you provide. FOTS has supported our trips, workshops and books that the children have been taking home for the summer reading challenge. The love of reading emanates throughout Trinity.

“Beyond that, there’s also the events that FOTS organises, things like the disco, Christmas fair and the Easter egg hunt. All these things go towards making this school so special.”

Gemma Grange, who chairs the friends group, said she was “delighted” with how much the ball had raised.

“It was brilliant and I think everyone had a really good time,” she said.

Mrs Grange, of Berkshire Road, Henley, thanked her fellow organisers Sally Downing, Isabel Spriggs and Katie Pollard and estate agents Penny & Sinclair for sponsoring the dinner.