There was an excellent start to my day’s teaching at Beechwood Park School this morning. 

Stewart House have adopted SOS Children’s Villages as their charity for next term, and invited me and my bike to their last assembly this term to give a talk about the whole project, followed by a very entertaining q&a session. 

“Where will you go to the toilet?”, “Why are you taking a ukulele?” (fair enough), “Why are your handlebars curvy?”  

Their enthusiasm was inspiring and gave me so much pleasure. Next term the fundraising will begin in earnest. I also had some great suggestions (such as an in-cabin charity announcement on the flight over to Canada) and offers of help from fellow members of staff – many thanks to all, but especially Jane Lodge, Director of Music (in the photo helping the House mascot “Stewie” hitch a ride), for getting the whole thing going! 

Also a special thanks to the girl (I didn’t catch her name) who quietly gave me her Easter bunny chocolate at the end, “to give to the children in the village”.