Issue 505 – Headteacher’s mission is a wheel challenge

A Melksham primary school headteacher has set himself a challenge of raising £10,000 to pay for new playground equipment at the school by cycling around the whole of Wiltshire.

Matthew Nightingale, who is headteacher at Aloeric Primary School, will cycle the 167 miles covered by the Wiltshire Cycleway. He has set aside four days to complete the journey.
The route will take Matthew around the outskirts of the county, along quiet country lanes and endurance testing terrains.
He hopes he will be able to raise £10,000 with the help of local businesses offering sponsorship, as well as support from pupils and staff at the school.
“The playground trail was recognised as the top thing the children wanted through a survey we held,” Matthew explained. “The trail was designed by the classes and then the school council met with Playforce, the Bowerhill company, who helped turn the ideas into reality.”
The headteacher is no stranger to cycling long distances, having previously cycled from Bristol to Land’s End for the launch of Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, in the 1990s.
“It runs in the family,” he said. “My mother has always been a very keen cyclist too. She would go across to the continent each year and take part in races.
“I cycle to school twice a week from Devizes where I live, and part of the school’s travel plan is to encourage the children to walk, or cycle when possible. In fact, we have 60 spaces for bicycles and we are one of the first schools to have installed a rack for scooters to be kept.”
Each pupil at the school has been set a challenge to raise as much money as they can in sponsorship, which will all go towards the new play equipment. A prize will be awarded to whoever raises the most.
“The children are all excited about the challenge of raising money and I’m hoping some local businesses will help us by supporting the project.”
Matthew will be saddling up and setting off from Aloeric School on Tuesday 10th August. To keep track of his progress, log on to his blog at http://mrnaloericbikeride.blogspot.com If you would like to sponsor him, call the school on 01225 702563.