157. Formal Opening at Treloar’s College

For those of you who are regular readers of my blog, you will recall a visit to Treloar’s College in Hampshire – see blog no 118.

This is a very special place – a residential special needs college in Alton, Hampshire that provides not only specialist care and a home, but also formal education to a high standard – as a recent OFSTED Inspection confirmed.

The Worshipful Company of Water Conservators has developed a long relationship with the college via our charity, The Water Conservation Trust. Our most recent involvement was in sponsoring a water feature in the newly refurbished Gauvain House, which is home to 21 students, all with very special needs. I had the pleasure of formally opening the water garden earlier this year.

With the final completion of the refurbishment of Gauvain House, the Countess of Wessex (a strong supporter of Treloar’s) was invited to formally open the house, earlier this week. Peter Hall (Deputy Master) and I were invited to attend and represent our Company. We were formally introduced to the Countess who thanked us for our participation and generosity.

It was a very happy occasion, and we had the opportunity to view the garden we sponsored – now liberally planted with strawberry plants!

Photographs show the Countess chatting to some of the students, the Deputy Master and I beside the newly unveiled Gauvain House plaque and our water feature operating in the sunny garden.