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Butcombe enters the record books!

Pupils at Butcombe, Clifton College's Pre-Preparatory School are celebrating becoming world record holders after gaining an official entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

Butcombe set the new record for the largest ever game of Head, Shoulders. Knees and Toes, when 448 pre-school children, parents, teachers and friends joined TV celebrities, Carol Vorderman and Chris Vacher for the event in October last year. The previous world record was for 255 participants.

To mark Butcombe's official world record entry, Dr Wendy Bowring, Head of Butcombe, was joined by the Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Peter Abraham and the Deputy Director of Bristol Zoo Dr Bryan Carroll for a special presentation ceremony.

The event helped to raise £1,245 for Butcombe's twin school in Sri Lanka, the Kamburugamuwa West School, and £1,180 for Breast Cancer Care ñ a charity which was chosen by Dr Wendy Bowring following her personal battle with the disease.

Wendy said: "We are delighted to have set a new world record and raise money for these two very worthy causes.

"The Kamburugamuwa West School supported us on the day by taking part in the game simultaneously. Although their numbers could not be counted towards the record, it was touching that they could share the experience with us on the other side of the world," she adds.

Butcombe was twinned with Kamburugamuwa West in 2005 after the school was badly hit by the Asian tsunami.

"Kamburugamuwa West School is in an area dependent on the fishing and tourist industries," Wendy explains. "Many of the children at the school now have unemployed parents, and the school is in need of equipment, books and building repairs.

"The Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes event is one of many charitable activities we organise in aid of the children in Sri Lanka. The partnership also has benefits for Butcombe too by encouraging pupils to forge relationships with other children around the world and learn about other cultures," she said.

22 May 2008

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