Remembering Baroness Rachael Heyhoe Flint
Flinters was the first part of the email of the world famous , much celebrated late Baroness Heyhoe Flint.
“Our Rachael” was one of the first and a lifelong Patron of the Birch Thompson Memorial Charity (BTMF). This project is to provide an outdoor play area covered with synthetic turf at Gelliwig BTMF Residential Centre in Porthmadog, that commemorates Wolverhampton Teachers Graham Birch and John Thompson who sadly died of heart attacks in 1980. They both knew Rachael and John taught at the same school as Rachael.
Need
Since the Charity bought Gelliwig in 1985, the land at the rear of the property has required continuous maintenance and is currently unusable. This poses unnecessary risk as the only free outdoor space is at the front of the building, adjacent to a busy main road, which is a safeguarding and safety concern. The growth of weeds including bramble and nettles on the land at the rear has been a danger to children who may have wandered to that area. Essentially, the user groups have to remain indoors.
Objectives
To fully utilise a currently unusable area at the rear of the Centre.
To create a multi-purpose ,safe outdoor play area that can be utilised all year round.
To install a multi-sport artificial turf, which will require minimal maintenance .
To install a safety fence around the area.
To create a functional access route to the area that is above the ground
Benefits
User groups will have a secure safe outdoor space on which children can play freely with minimum supervision.
The area will be most useful to occupy children when meals are being prepared and at the end of the day.
The area will be usable all year round.
Links with Wolverhampton Wanderers and support
The Chair of BTMF, Keith Berry was awarded the first Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award by Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club in May 2017.
Robert Plant CBE (Lead Singer Led Zeppelin and Wolves Vice-President) says: "I am happy to support the Birch Thompson’s application for the Big Give campaign, as they aim to improve their facilities in memory of the one and only Rachael Heyhoe Flint, with whom I shared so much fun and laughter down the years.”
Steve Bull MBE, former Wolves and England footballer and Vice-President of Wolves says: “Rachael was a great character who I really enjoyed working with and I am fully behind this campaign for a new astroturf facility to be built in her memory."
Matt Murray, former Wolves goalkeeper and Sky Sports presenter says “ Rachael was such a lovely lady who would always help us players as well as drive so much fantastic work in the community. Hopefully the funds can be raised to complete this work at Gelliwig in her memory.”
The Charity has received donations from Wolves Aid, Wolves Foundation and the Former Wolves Players Association to help fund previous work at Gelliwig. Richard Skirrow met with Steve Barclay, Managing Director of Mcardle Sport-Tec Ltd. in 2024 and invited Keith to outline the plans. Subsequently an offer to supply and install the synthetic turf was made and also to provide additional advice.
