Wolverhampton charity honours Rachael Heyhoe Flint with a new outdoor astroturf play area
A series of improvement works to a residential centre in Wales run by a Wolverhampton charity has been completed with a new outdoor astroturf play area in memory of Baroness Rachael Heyhoe Flint.
‘Flinters Field’ is a tribute to the cricketing pioneer, ex-England captain and former Wolves Vice-President, which will see thousands of young people given an opportunity to enjoy sporting activity at Gelliwig Residential Centre in Porthmadog, managed by the Birch Thompson Memorial Fund.
Several local organisations, including Wolves Foundation, Wolves’ Former Players Association and the Inner Wheel of Tettenhall have helped fund improvements to the interior of the accessible property, which offers young people the opportunity to enjoy activities in Porthmadog and further afield.
After the internal developments were complete, several other organisations offered materials and labour free of charge for Flinters Field, and the remaining target of £10,000 was kindly donated, in Rachael’s memory, by the Steve Morgan Foundation.
“Flinters Field is the final part of a substantial improvement programme to Gelliwig, and its sporting theme is a fitting tribute to the continuing legacy of Rachael’s support, which played such a substantial part in the history of our charity,” says Keith Berry, the charity’s chairman.
“The Birch Thompson Memorial Fund was founded in 1981, following the sudden deaths of Wolverhampton teachers Graham Birch and John Thompson, and, due to their love of taking students on school trips, the purchase of Gelliwig tied in with their support of outdoor travel and activity.
“Rachael was one of the first and lifelong patrons of the charity, and was heavily involved in so much of the fundraising during our development, and to be able to transform this dilapidated area at the back of the property into a high quality sports field is the perfect testament to her memory.
“To see so many people come together to contribute to the project shows just how highly everyone thought of her, culminating in this incredibly generous donation from the Steve Morgan Foundation which provided the final funding to ensure the project’s completion.”
Other support for Flinters Field included some incredible generosity from McArdle Sport TEC, who donated and installed the synthetic turf, and from Breedon Minffordd Quarry and Asphalt Plant who donated 20 tons of hardcore and 15 tons of Grano Dust. All the preparation of the groundworks was delivered by Right Track Wolverhampton CIC, with workforce and volunteers led by Andy Morris MBE, supported by Joe Gaffy, the part time warden at Gelliwig.
The fundraising campaign was promoted by the other leading Wolves names including Robert Plant CBE, John Richards, John Gough and Matt Murray, while former club secretary Richard Skirrow has been actively involved throughout.
And when the final target to complete the preparatory works was reduced to £10,000 following the other donations, former Wolves chairman and owner Steve Morgan CBE stepped in.
“Our focus now at the Steve Morgan Foundation is more on substantial projects where we work with charities on major grants funding long-lasting change,” said Steve.
“But this is one request where we were more than happy to make an exception, because Rachael was one of the loveliest people I have ever met.
“We are delighted to have been able to make a contribution, particularly when so many young people will be able to enjoy the facility - in Rachael’s memory - over the coming years.”
