Packwood hosts donkey derby and afternoon of fun

The sound of thundering hooves and braying donkeys filled the air at Packwood Haugh School in Shropshire last Friday 4th May.

Pupils, parents, friends and staff came along to enjoy the Plant Sale and Fun Afternoon, the latest in a series of celebratory events to commemorate Packwood’s 125th anniversary.

There were plenty of traditional attractions – Tombola, Lucky Dip, Coconut Shy, Splat-the-Rat, Welly Throwing and Hook-a-Duck to name just a few – but the highlight of the afternoon was undoubtedly the Donkey Derby. A series of highly competitive races ran throughout the afternoon with children of all ages urging their mighty steeds on down the short sprint to the line. One donkey in particular had a completely different idea of what constituted a ‘fun afternoon’ and dumped every single one of its riders on the ground to the amusement of spectators and jockeys alike.

Headmaster Clive Smith-Langridge commented, ‘The event was a great success with the fine, sunny weather adding to the happy atmosphere. It was wonderful to bring the Packwood community together for such an enjoyable occasion. And all the fun was in a good cause with proceeds from the afternoon going towards the 125 Appeal fund for the development of Packwood’s science facilities – a worthy and long-lasting legacy of this anniversary year’s celebrations.’