BROMSGROVE golden girl Lauren Rowles has donated a special pear tree to her former school in Alvechurch, to inspire children that they too can pursue their dreams.
The 19-year-old rower, who won gold in the 2016 Paralympics, visited Alvechurch Middle School on Friday, June 23, to help pupils plant a Black Pear Tree in the school grounds.
Lauren – a pupil at the school from Year 6 until Year 8 – was awarded the unique tree by Worcestershire County Council last year, in recognition of her sporting success in Rio.
She told the Advertiser: “The incentive is to pass the tree on and keep it growing.
“The first thought in my mind was for it to come to Alvechurch.
“It has always been a supportive place for me and there is no better place for it to go than my former school as all the children can see it.
“When I was in Year 6 I wrote in my school journal that I wanted to become an Olympian one day.
“It is something I always show the kids when I visit to demonstrate that what was once a big dream has now become a reality.
“It is always a good opportunity to continue to see the kids that are in the school and to inspire the next generation of Olympians.”
(ABOVE: Paralympic star Lauren Rowles with Alvechurch Middle School's gardening club, on a visit to plant the Pear Tree)
Children from the school’s gardening club will now take responsibility of the tree by watering it, feeding it, and helping to produce iconic black pears.
Head teacher David Snell hopes Lauren's donation will help plant seeds of inspiration in fertile young minds.
He said: “It has been a real inspiration to the children in the school to have Lauren here. The children get very excited every time she comes in.
“We are very privileged and honoured that the children have something to place here and it inspires them that they can pursue their dreams.
“Often it is one of those things people say, but to have a real example of someone like Lauren who has done that is amazing.”
Cofton Hackett girl Lauren, who has previously held assemblies at the school, was also welcomed back by her old form tutor and teacher Mandie Dyer.
She said: “It’s always great to have Lauren back at the school.
“She was always a competitive pupil. She was quite opinionated and was a hard worker who always stuck up for other people.”
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