Hazelgrove Prep's Olympic moment

Hazelgrove Prep pupils had the opportunity to hold a real Olympic medal when Peter Wilson revisited his old school

Hazlegrove Prep School pupils got the chance to hold a real Olympic Gold Medal when Peter Wilson MBE revisited his old school to open The Wilson Centre, the Somerset prep’s renamed Learning Support Unit (LSU).

A gold medallist in double trap shooting at the London 2012 Olympics, Peter Wilson also won silver in the team double trap at the 2011 European Championships. Now retired from the sport and focused on coaching, he returned to his old school to unveil the plaque placed in his honour. This was created by fellow Old Hazlegrovian, the stone engraver Toby Newton.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Headmaster, Ed Benbow and his wife, Amanda, Peter Wilson was joined by his parents along with Governor, Christopher Birrell and his wife as well as his old teachers and current prep pupils. The children were thrilled to have the opportunity to hear an Olympian speak and to have a close-up of his winning London 2012 Olympics gold medal.

Susan Cranfield, who was Peter Wilson’s LSU teacher during his time at the school also attended, providing an uplifting speech to the ceremony attendees and pupils. “Hazlegrove has long accepted neurodiversity and one school inspector told me that you can judge a successful school by its LSU,” she said.

Hazelgrove Prep School hazlegrove.co.uk

Further reading: New Head at Old Buckenham Hall Prep, Suffolk