Oswestry School welcomed Charlotte Edwards CBE to open their new £800K sports facility, The Momentum Hall, and presented Headmaster Julian Noad with the England shirt she wore for her World Twenty20 game in India in 2016.
Charlotte is arguably England’s most recognisable female cricketer who captained the England women’s team from 2006. In 1996, Charlotte became the youngest woman ever to play for England at just 16 when she made her International debut. A year later, she hit 12 centuries as she began to establish herself as a fierce opening batter. Awarded ICC Women’s Player of the Year in 2008, the plaudits continued to come and Charlotte was awarded the MBE for her services to cricket in 2009 followed by a CBE in 2014. In the same year Charlotte was named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year.
The Momentum Hall is the latest development for Oswestry School. Discussions for a new sports facility had been held for a number of years and a decision was reached to build a high tensile fabric structure offering an environmentally innovative building ideal for playing under all weather conditions with natural light, acoustic comfort and a temperate atmosphere.
Local businessman and former Oswestry School pupil, Howard Jones from Momentum Wine, was keen to be involved in the project from the beginning and, having a love of sport, sponsored the Hall thus the name ‘Momentum Hall’.
The Momentum Hall is a great addition to the school offering a wealth of multi-purpose space. It can house two netball courts, two tennis courts, court spaces for badminton, volleyball and basketball, plus there are three indoor cricket nets and can cater for functions of up to 800 people. The Hall will be the home venue for the Oswestry & District Netball league for the forthcoming season.
The building of the Momentum Hall comes hot on the heels of other developments at Oswestry School. In the past twelve months a further £450K of investment has brought positive changes to the school. Alongside a new food, preparation and nutrition classroom, spin room and LED lighting upgrade system throughout the campus there has been a major investment to extend and refurbish the school’s dining facility which has become known amongst the pupils as the ‘John Lewis café’.
Headmaster, Julian Noad, commented, “We are delighted that Charlotte has taken the time from her busy schedule to come and open the Momentum Hall.
The school introduced girls’ cricket to the curriculum over a year ago and the teams, though young, are going from strength to strength. Charlotte’s inspirational speech will encourage these young sportswomen to believe they too can become a leader in their chosen fields.
This sports facility is twice the size of a standard sports hall and provides the school with exactly the sporting provision it has needed. Oswestry School now offers a wealth of first class facilities to rival any school. We are also looking forward to hosting a netball masterclass by England netball head coach Tracey Neville MBE in October.”
There is an opportunity to view the new developments and investment at Oswestry School at the Open Morning on Saturday 6 October. To book a place or for further information email enquiries@oswestryschool.org.uk
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