HIGHWORTH Warneford School’s Summer Fayre took on a new dimension this year as professional parachutists dropped in with a few cuddly toys.

On Saturday, the Pegasus Display Team were brought into the event, organised by the school’s parent teacher association (PTA), for the first-ever time and gave children the chance to have their teddy bears taken to the skies.

The display team was brought on-board through the contacts Ann Lewis, a member of the PTA, holds as a parachutist herself.

Carolyn Crawley, another member of the PTA, said the new addition to the fayre was warmly received, with schoolchildren from the main feeder primary schools also getting involved.

“Pegasus Display Team did the jump at cost price for us, so we were very grateful the rate was so manageable,” she said.

“At least of the jumpers gave up paid work on Saturday to help us out too. When we knew the team was turning up we turned our attention to the teddy bear aspect to it.

“It was the first time we had done anything like this before and it was terrific, it was amazing.

“Ann has a lot of knowledge and experience in this field, so she was invaluable in making this all happen.”

Children had applied in the weeks leading up to the event to have their teddies dropped with the parachutists, using their own mini canopies to bring them safely to the floor. Four were chosen out of a hat for the drop, and those successful were given a certificate to for the day.

The fayre itself doubled last year’s takings and raised £2,600 for the secondary school to use for the pupils’ benefit.