CHILDREN In Need took place on Friday 20th November, and Westbury did its bit with a variety of events around the town.
The annual appeal for the BBC’s children’s charity raises millions of pounds for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK every year. This year was the 30th Children in Need appeal.
In Morrisons supermarket three brave male members of staff, Marcus Griggs, Steve Leatham and Matt Cole, raised £241 by having their legs waxed in front of a crowd of staff and curious shoppers.
Checkout manager Marcus said, “It was my first time doing anything like that. I was very very nervous. It was all right on the front of the legs, my pain threshold is quite high, but when it started on the back of the knees I just wanted to scream, but I couldn’t obviously.
“We raised quite a bit so it was more than worthwhile but I don’t think I’ll be having my legs waxed again, maybe something else. All round though I enjoyed it.”
Elsewhere the staff at Britannia in the High Street dressed up in bright costumes and held a book stall to raise funds, and workers at Fairfield Farm College in Dilton Marsh went to work in their pyjamas.
At Bratton Primary School, and Bratton Pre-school children and staff dressed up as ‘mini beasts’ to take part in a sponsored sing-a-long led by Jo Jingles, joining in with rhymes such as Incy Wincy Spider.
David Brown, Bratton head teacher said, “All the teachers and all the children have dressed up and are taking part in the sponsored sing-a-long with Sarah Montague Smith, who has offered her services.
“We always do something for Children In Need and Comic Relief, the children absolutely love it.”
Paulene Bryant, deputy play leader at Bratton Pre-school, said, “Children came in fancy dress as spiders, lady birds or other lovely bugs. The children have been clapping, wiggling, patting knees, spinning and stomping along to the Jo Jingles Children in Need song ‘Boogie Bugs’ They have been sponsored to perform this in fancy dress all week, raising nearly £100 for the worthy cause.”
At Chapmanslade Primary School, students paid a donation to come to school in ‘the wrong trousers’, and took to the task with relish, sporting many wild and wacky styles.
Headteacher Joss Jewell said, “The children absolutely love it and they have gone to a lot of trouble. I don’t think there is anyone, staff or pupil, who hasn’t joined in. We’ve explained to the children how lucky we are and how we are helping people who aren’t as lucky as us.”
At Cygnets Pre-school, toddlers baked Children In Need cakes for their parents to buy at the end of the sessions.
Deputy leader Philippa Wheeler said, “We always do something for Children in Need, it’s very popular. The children enjoy it and we explain to them that it’s to help children that are less fortunate than they are.
“The parents will buy the cakes later and we can’t wait to have a little nibble!”
You can still donate to Children In Need by visiting www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/donate, or calling 03457 332 233.
