Question Time with PC Rathband
On Thursday 9th June 2011 we had the honour of PC David Rathband visiting the school to do a Question Time with students from Years 7, 8 and 9. PC Rathband is the police officer who was shot and blinded by Raoul Moat on 4th July last year. The visit was arranged after one of our Communities had chosen PC Rathband’s charity – The Blue Lamp Foundation as their charity. Not only was it an extremely good cause to support but it was also synonymous with the Blue Community Colours of Pegasus .
Our first fundraising event was a football tournament organised by Mr Milburn which involved teams from Mortimer Staff, Northumbria Police, Carillion and Nike. Although Nike were the outright winners it was a closely fought event and all participants are keen for a repeat of the event to try and settle old scores. To follow on from this wristbands were sold in school and these were so popular that we sold out and needed to order some more.
PC Rathband heard about our fundraising and contact was made to see if he would like to come into school and meet staff and students – which he agreed to. A selection of Year 7, 8 and 9 students formulated questions for PC Rathband during English lessons designated to reviewing the News Event last summer. Over 200 students and staff attended the event held in the Mortimer Theatre as well as invited guests from the local community and for one hour PC Rathband answered a range of questions posed to him by our students about his life before and after the shooting, his feelings towards Raoul Moat and his charity the Blue Lamp Foundation. We will be continuing our support of PC Rathband and the charity through school assemblies and a non uniform day on Friday 1st July 2011 and it is hoped that he will visit the school again in the near future. No-one present on Thursday could fail to be amazed and moved by such a truly inspirational man!