A RECORD-BREAKING former Olympic swimmer is set to make a splash when she officially unveils a school’s multi-million-pound transformation.
Sharron Davies MBE will be on hand to open the new-look £16.5m Dene Community School, in Peterlee, on Tuesday night, from 6pm.
The champion swimmer became a household name after picking up a string of major international medals, swimming in three Olympic Games in three decades and being named BBC Sportswoman of the Year twice.
Sharron, 51, also a TV presenter who was a pundit for BBC during last year’s Olympics, will be given a tour of the revamped school before cutting a ribbon.
Members of the community are invited along to the event to meet Sharron and see for themselves how much Dene has changed.
The red-carpet opening will also feature a host of entertainment from local groups, including stilt-walkers.
Joanne Henderson, the school’s vocational co-ordinator, said: “We are all very excited to have the chance to hear Sharron Davies speak when she comes to open our fantastic new school.
“Sharron is an inspirational speaker and also living proof of the benefits that hard work and talent can bring to young people – she first swam for Britain at the age of 11, was an Olympian at the age of 14 and went on to win many medals and broke records in her field.”
Ms Henderson added: “We want our students to bring their parents along so they can see this wonderful new building.”
The new school opened in November following 18 months of work by Carillion and the former building is due to be demolished shortly.
“The kids love the new school,” added Ms Henderson.
“You can tell they new facilities are giving them more motivation and a sense of pride.”
Business leaders, including representatives from local firms Walkers and Caterpillar, as well as workers from Peterlee town centre firms, will also be present during the event, to see the new education facilities being made available for the town’s employees of the future.
Anyone wishing to go along to the event is asked to contact the school on (0191) 5862140 to confirm numbers.