Nailsea goes metal for Children in Need

PUDSEY became a pupil at Nailsea School on Friday to help students count their coin collection for the BBC charity Children in Need.

The town went ‘metal’ for the annual fundraiser with music, loose change and a ‘mad bad hair day’ being just some of the stunts staged adding to the £20 million raised nationally.

Photo one is of some of the activity at Nailsea School. To see lots more photos of the school fundraising go to the gallery. Photo two is outside Gilly’s café with, from left, Katy, Nic, Marina, Gill, Tracy and Hannah in mad hair mode.Photo three shows Foresters Roy Price, Derek Moore, hostess Sue Williams and Jean More

Nailsea School Council organised the cake sale, netball tournament and a money-making stair stunt which resulted in its media staircase being covered with loose change.

School presidents Rosie Steel and Will Dowling masterminded the mega effort to carpet the stairs in 1p, 2p, 5p,10p and 20p coins and Pudsey Bear arrived for a visit in the mid-morning break.

Rosie said: “Friday was a great success, we raised so much – our grand total is £657.50.

“On the Thursday we had a staff versus student netball tournament which was a bit of fun.

“During the break on Friday we had a massive cake sale where Houses had a competition to see who could raise the most money and bake the best tasting cakes.

“Phoenix House won – so three cheers for Phoenix.

“During Friday we attempted to cover the media stair case in loose change and we managed to cover the bottom three steps with all the money pupils had donated.

“Our giant Pudsey was running around school causing havoc and we would like to thank dance teacher Jenny Nelms for loaning the costume.

“Will and I would like to thank the school council for all their help on the day.

“We are also grateful for the massive support from the sixth form and staff . 

“We never thought we would raise this much but throughout the day the total got larger and larger.”

Sue Williams was the hostess with the mostess when she threw open house at her Station Road home for a Pudsey Spuds & Puds annual lunch.

Sue, who is married to Trevor, of Trevor Ward shoe shop, has been serving her charity lunches for seven years.

The couple belong to an international financial organisation called the Foresters, which is well-known for its charitable works.

Lots of their Forester friends turned up on Friday to tuck into baked potatoes with a choice of eight toppings and a wide array of waist-busting puddings.

Sue said: “We served 52 jacket potatoes and from the food, bring-and-buy, raffle and donations, from people unable to come, we raised £456.70.

“I would like to say thanks to everyone who supported the fund-raising, I am exhausted but delighted with result.”

The Foresters also sponsor and/or support Backwell Donkey Derby, Portishead Raft Race and the RUH Forever Friends Appeal

At Gilly’s café the High Street staff had a hair-raising ‘mad, bad hair day’ for Children in Need and made almost £100.

Nichola Tuttiett said: “We have done something for Children in Need every year for five years since we first opened.

“Last year it was fancy dress and one of the staff wore angel wings which kept bumping into everything and everyone.

“So this year we decided to do weird and wonderful things with staff wearing pink wigs, Elvis clothes and lots of hair gel.

“All our tips for the day went to Children in Need.”

The Children in Need fund was also boosted by a part-time barmaid from the Glasshouse pub in Nailsea who sang on the official Children in Need record.

Lianne Savage, aka Lenny Savage, is a singer with the backing band Lenny Savage with musicians Bill Banwell, Miguel Andrews, Daniel Puzey and Toby Andrews.

Lenny, of Whitesfield Road,  was invited to the world famous Abbey Road Studios to take part in the official BBC Children in Need recording of an album and All You Need Is Love single along with 50 other top musicians from all over the UK.

The 21-year-old former Nailsea School pupil started her career with The Acorns singing group from Nailsea Folk Club.

She is hoping to release of her own debut album Quaintrelle before Christmas.

The Bandaged Together double album is a mixture of nostalgic and well-loved children’s songs from times gone by and costs £13 with £7 going to Children in Need.