Gold medal winner hoping to inspire at school reunion
First alumni event for Ruislip comprehensive
A DOUBLE gold medalwinning Paralympian from Uxbridge has praised her Ruislip comprehensive school as she looks forward to attending its first ever alumni event.
Natasha Baker MBE will be attending the Bishop Ramsey CofE School’s reunion later this month and said she ‘can’t wait’ to catch up with old teachers and friends.
Natasha, who won two gold medals in the The Uxbridge Gazette Series London 2012 games, will be on hand on Saturday (June 25) to welcome old students to the school in Hume Way for the first event of its kind.
The 26-year-old said: “I have such fond memories of my time at school. Everyone was extremely supportive of what I was trying to achieve when I was there, so much so that they actually feel kind of part of it.
“So I’m really pleased to be able to give something back. I also encourage people to revisit their schools and inspire students who started their lives with the same opportunities as you. “It’s so rewarding.” The school also wants to hear from students at its two predecessor schools, Ruislip Manor Secondary School and St Martin’s C of E Secondary School in Yiewsley.
A Paralympic dressage rider, Natasha suffers from Transverse Myelitis which left her with permanent nerve damage and severe weakness in her legs.
She contracted the virus at 14-months old but did not let it stop her achieving her dream.
Unable to use her legs while riding, Natasha uses voice commands and seat movement to instruct her horses.
Bishop Ramsey is holding its first alumni event to find inspirational past students who can inspire current pupils as part of its work with education charity Future First.
Headteacher at the school, Andrew Wilcock, said: “We are looking forward to our first alumni event. It promises to be a great opportunity for former students to get in touch with each other again.
“We hope that it will be the beginning of a new phase in the life of the school, which sees much closer links between past and present students.”
Future First is a Hammersmith-based charity which links students with alumni to encourage social mobility.
Managing director of the charity, which currently has 400 state schools signed up, Alex Shapland-Howes said: “More than 39% of state school students don’t
It promises to be a great opportunity for former students to get in touch with each other again
CATCH UP: know anyone in a job they’d like to do.
“If they see that someone who went to the same school, grew up in the same community, has achieved a fulfilling or satisfying job, it helps them see it’s possible for them too.”
The reunion event will be held at the school between 3pm and 5pm on Saturday. To attend email alumni@bishop ramseyschool.org or visit the alumni section of the website.