Wow!
What a morning we have had at Leswalt Primary. We were delighted to welcome back to our school, our Olympian medallists – Vicky Wright and Bobby Lammie. Both arrived wearing their Olympic kit, with medals round their neck for all to admire.
They arrived to a heroes welcome from all the pupils at Leswalt Primary, as a great cheer went up as they walked into meet the current Leswalt Primary crew. Once in, they were shown how Leswalt Primary had been cheering them on throughout their time in Beijing – from good luck video messages, bunting round the school and watching their games in the classroom. With the ladies semi final going onto an extra end even meant the pupils were late home one day, it was that tense everyone had to wait until the final stone!
The two house captains then read out letters they had sent to the Royal Mail, MP’s. MSPs, and local councillors asking for the postbox at Leswalt school to be painted gold. Malcom Mc Gregor and Breagh Kirkpatrick outlined how sadly they are not doing this again after the London 2012 Olympics. But, the Royal Mail sent every pupil in Leswalt Primary a special presentation pack of stamps Royal Mail have produced to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the Queen, to say sorry and make up for disappointing the boys and girls.
Mrs Baillie, then told all the boys and girls that we will have our own special additions at school to remind everyone how proud everyone at Leswalt Primary is of our former pupils. Thanks to a kind donation from the Baillie family of 2 curling stones we will mark out entrance way to school to remember when Vicky and Bobby won Gold and Silver at the Olympics. The school has sourced gold and silver curling stone handles which will go on the stones. Inside the building our new extension entranceway will have a commentative photograph of our former pupils and today they left us a special addition for our time capsule that we will be burying in the playground.
The floor was then opened for questions from the pupils. They ranged from “What does it take to be an Olympian?” “What is your favourite ice rink?” and “How did you celebrate after winning your medals?”. Vicky and Bobby took the time to answer to every single question from the inquisitive audience. The boys and girls also learned about the symbols on the medal and learning how heavy they were.
The school then took part in some live Olympic curling. The younger class had previously had a round robin tournament of table top curling in class. So the school had a female then male final. Young Rachael Drummond took on Vicky Wright, and sadly could not defeat the gold medal winner. But in the male final it was a “Bobby Bonspiel”, as Leswalt’s young Bobby Shaw in P1 played Bobby Lammie. The cheers went up when it was “wee” Bobby who won the Bobby bonspiel!
A prize giving ceremony took place on the specially constructed Leswalt Primary podium. Medals and certificates were awarded to our curling superstars as “Simply the Best” was played instead of the National anthem!
Finally Bobby and Vicky signed the curling games and some autographs for their young fans before leaving Leswalt Primary again.
It was a wonderful, inspiring morning for all, showing what true sports Bobby and Vicky are, both on and off the ice rink.
