Hawick High School receive fitting award

A PILOT project aimed at providing teenage school pupils with a rugby qualification in Hawick has been honoured as the first recipient of a grant from the Bill McLaren Foundation.

In an award that could not be more fitting, the foundation launched last year in honour of the 'Voice of Rugby' will give 2000 to Hawick High School, one of the schools in which McLaren taught PE, to develop the 'Class of Rugby'.

The 'Class of Rugby' is a partnership between the SRU, Borders College and Hawick High School for the delivery of a curriculum-based rugby course for S3 pupils, offering students an opportunity to receive a qualification in individual performance in rugby.

Linda Lawson, McLaren's daughter and foundation director, said: "We're delighted that the first grant was awarded to Hawick High School - a location very close to dad's heart. As well as fulfilling one of the aims of the foundation 'to develop and promote the game of rugby and its values', this grant also emphasises his passion for teaching.

"The foundation has now reached the stage where we have a modest sum available from which we can award grants. We're looking at a number of applications from all over the UK and are looking forward to announcing other national projects shortly."

Alan Williamson, head teacher at Hawick High School, said that the school staff and pupils took great pride in having one of its projects chosen to receive the first grant.

He said: "We feel very privileged to be piloting the scheme because of the potential that this has within the school curriculum. This grant will enhance 'The Class of Rugby' and help develop the course content. The additional significance of Bill having taught here makes us even prouder to have been awarded the first grant from the Bill McLaren Foundation".

As part of its fund-raising and to enable further grants, the foundation would like all fans of McLaren to consider joining their supporters' club.

The club features four categories of membership - individuals, schools, rugby clubs and corporate companies - with suggested annual donations starting at 20.