Merrow Junior School (formerly Bushy Hill) is proud to be a sporty and outdoors-loving school. They are lucky to have extensive facilities that enable this, including a large playing field, a trim trail, climbing areas and an all-weather MUGA pitch ( Multi use Games Area)
However, the all weather pitch was over 20 years old. It has been shut for the last 12 months as it has been too slippery to use. The consequences to the school have been dramatic – it meant the lunchtimes, break times and PE lessons have been restricted to the much smaller tarmac areas, which has caused significant disruption.
Costing of the project to renew the pitch is expected to total £133,000. Through the amazing efforts of the school, they have managed to secure over £125,000 from ‘Your Fund Surrey’, PTA fund raising, The Football Foundation, Governors’ Fund and Corporate sponsorship. Recognising the efforts already made, and to help get the project to its completion, Rotary Club of Guildford Wey were pleased to be able to help with a donation of £500 towards the completion of the new all weather pitch.
Ancillary facilities are yet to be completed, however it has been possible to get the actual pitch installed in advance of the next phase which is to install toilets and portable floodlights. It will be open for use for local community hire and access as well as for school use.
Rotary Club of Guildford Wey President, Andy Bowen-Ashwin, was pleased to be able to present the Club’s cheque of £500 to the Executive Head Teacher of the Merrow Federation, Mrs Louisa Dormer
They are both standing on the new sand-dressed artificial turf surface.
Mrs Dormer has written to the Club to express her “… heartfelt thanks for your extremely generous donation of £500 towards our All Weather Pitch project. It is very much appreciated and has helped enormously with our fundraising. “
