Chris Wilkinson visited St John’s CEC Primary School, Rowlands Castle to officially open the Outdoor Learning Project (Part of the School Improvement Plan) and provide tennis-coaching advice to Year 5 pupils. Chris is a former British No1 Tennis player, TV commentator and National Performance Coach with the LTA. At Wimbledon Chris reached the 3rd round in Singles on 4 occasions and made the Doubles quarterfinals.
At a day of celebration at the school on 22nd May in front of an invited audience of sponsors and VIPs, the Anglican Bishop of Portsmouth blessed a new outdoor Worship Circle in the morning, before Chris Wilkinson officially opened the Outdoor Learning Project in the afternoon. (£37,250 has been raised for the project so far, with a further £20,000 needed for the final phase).
After officially opening the project Chris (pictured above) played an exhibition match with School pupil Aaron Butcher, a talented 9-year-old tennis player who trains at the Portsmouth Tennis Academy, recently won an Under 12 tennis tournament in Australia and regularly plays in LTA tournaments. Typical of a nine year-old Aaron also plays and represents his school in cricket, football and tennis and is a member of Rowlands Castle Tennis Club.