Hippo wish comes true
Christmas came early for children at Bannockburn Primary last week thanks to the kind-hearted gesture of a major English football club.
The club sent their mascot Pottermus on a short loan to the school to fulfil the school’s Christmas wishes for their carol concert.
Nursery children at the school had searched far and wide for a hippo companion to help them perform their chosen Christmas song, ‘I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas’, but sadly came up short.
That was until school administration assistant Jenny Milne contacted Stoke City who offered to help.
Acting headteacher Aileen Mellor said: “When Jenny sent the message to Stoke, none of us thought for a second we would get a reply but to have them send Pottermus all the way up to Stirling to answer the children’s request is amazing. It’s a true heart-warming story for Christmas.”
Stoke City’s mascot takes its name from the club’s nickname The Potters, which dates back to the time when Stoke was world-famous for pottery manufacture.
Pottermus made the 260-mile trip up the M6 and into Scotland to visit the school.
Head of community at the EFL Championship Club Adrian Hurst said: “When we heard that the children of Bannockburn Primary School were on the hunt for a hippo to appear in their Christmas concerts we knew we could possibly help.
“Pottermus usually takes starring roles at our home games and at events in and around Stoke-on-Trent but he’s delighted to be heading slightly further afield to help spread some Christmas cheer.”
Stirling Council Provost Christine Simpson , who was also there to greet the mascot, said: “Having the hippo there was a brilliant surprise for the children and it was wonderful to see them singing their song with such enthusiasm and joy in front of their parents and families.”