Cricketing champions from Carew Manor special school beat off competition from 200 schools to win an award for their enthusiasm and commitment to the game. All students at the 126-pupil Years 4-11 school for children with complex needs, including severe learning difficulties and autism, play cricket.
They started when a coach from London County Cricket came to help them play, and then to organise a whole-school cricket day in which every child and member of staff played. Now, as the first special school to win the 2005 Don Rowan cricket trophy awarded annually by Surrey County Cricket Club to the keenest cricketers they find, and as part of their prize, the school playground will be marked up as a cricket pitch.
“Pupils of Carew Manor are the ideal recipients of this trophy,” said Surrey cricket development manager Chris Bullen, after they were presented with the cup by Don Rowan’s widow Katie. “Their attitude and enthusiasm embodies the love of cricket that drives the game. We wanted to reward the school for the opportunities it provided for all its children to enjoy and excel at cricket, regardless of their background.”
