Comedian John Bishop has backed a Winsford school in their mission to top the Christmas charts.
TV regular John, who grew up on the Crook Lane estate in the Wharton area of the town, is famous for his support of good causes having raised £4.2m for Sport Relief by completing a 290-mile triathlon in 2012.
When he heard about Oak View Academy’s plan to raise £100,000 to fund a speech therapist to help children with significant communication difficulties, it really struck a chord.
Now the father-of- three has now taken to Twitter to urge people to buy the school choir’s version of ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day’, which is available on Apple iTunes, Amazon and Googleplay.
He said: “Life is difficult for children who can’t communicate properly. They can become frustrated and disruptive and it can be a problem for them throughout their lives.
“The kids at Oak View have done a cracking job with the single and it is for a genuinely good cause so I hope you all get behind them.”
Just two years ago the school was ranked second worst in the country in the primary league tables.
Then, in 2014, it became part of Chester-based charitable organisation North West Academies Trust, and an incredible transformation got under way.
During a visit to the school last year, John, who lives in Davenham, urged the children to grab every opportunity available to them.
He said: “This school has gone through a massive change and is now in a good place, you can now do better than you could have before.”
John emphasised that where or how you grow up doesn’t have to define you for the rest of your lives.
He added: “What’s important is knowing you’ve done your best, if you do that then everything else will happen for you.”
Today, Oak View ranks in the top 5% in the country for progress in reading and is making huge strides across all areas of education.
Headteacher Fiona Rimmer added: “The children put so much effort into this song, it really shines through. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
The song, which costs 99p, is available for pre-order on Apple iTunes, Amazon and Google Play, and will be released December 16.
iTunes: http://www.apple.com/uk/itunes/affiliates/download/?id=1174118782
Amazon: https:// www.amazon.co.uk/Wish-Could-Christmas-Every-Day/dp/B01MSHLKHW
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Oak_View_Academy_I_Wish_It_Could_Be_Christmas_Ever?id=Bzvdjbedvu5nyyks74nvgvbi4qm&hl=en_GB
Donations can be made through the Just Giving website: North West Academies Trust- Oak View Academy, at https:// www.justgiving.com/oakviewacademy
If you haven’t heard it already, you can watch a short clip on the school’s Facebook and on Twitter @Oakviewacademy1 or @oak_academy.
