Rugby World Cup winner opens new West Berkshire classroom

Children’s rugby charity, Wooden Spoon, of which Vickery is an ambassador, donated £12,000 to convert the former potting shed into the classroom.
The horticulture area at Prior’s Court - a school for young people aged between five and 25 who are severely affected by their autism - is designed to help the young people develop their vocational skills and increase their independence.
The school says that students who find the classroom environment difficult can flourish in the hands-on environment of the horticulture area and enjoy watching something which they have planted grow.
Speaking to Newburytoday's sister publication, the Newbury Weekly News, former England captain Vickery said: “I am very proud that Wooden Spoon have been able to help regenerate what was a potting shed into an area where children and adults can come and learn gardening skills.
“I hope it will give them a diverse range of activities to do.
“You can tell the staff at the school love what they do and I’m honoured to be here.”
Head of Fundraising at the school, Lucinda Stubbs,said: “The Outdoor Horticulture Classroom is an excellent new facility which will really help the young people to use the horticulture area throughout the year and enable practical and academic work to be undertaken in the same place to maximise the positive benefits for our students.”
Vickery, who also won the celebrity Masterchef series in 2011, gave his account of this year’s Six Nations.
He said: “The Six Nations has been great this year, but obviously I was a bit disappointed on the final weekend for England not to get it.
“To go into the final weekend with three teams that could still win it was tremendous. As an Englishman I am extremely proud as of the way the team played.
When asked if he missed his playing days, he added: “I have won the World Cup in Australia and captained England to the final in France in 2007.
“I do really miss competing and not being able to pull on the jersey and sing the national anthem - but don’t miss the pain and getting beaten up all the time.
“I’m proud of what I achieved and it’s time to move on.”
The donation comes during Prior’s Court’s 15th Anniversary year. The fundraising target for the year is to raise nearly £100,000 to enable a new multi-sensory suite to be opened.