LOUD cheers greeted the arrival of Olympic athlete Denise Lewis at the school facility she had come to open.
The entire Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School community packed into their new sports hall, called the Merici Hall, to welcome Denise.
The official opening marked the end of 20-year wait for a purpose-built hall which the school in Queens Road has never had before – and to celebrate, students put on a display of dance, gymnastics and athletics.
Denise, who won heptathlon gold at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, told pupils, staff, governors and special guests that she believed school sport had been a vital part of her success.
She said: "I'm more than delighted to be here.
"I've been blessed to lead a full and exciting life in sport.
"I've travelled the world, made some outstanding friendships and represented my country.
"This is all thanks to the support of my teachers and my family.
"People ask me how this talent was nurtured and I tell them it was in school.
"Teachers identified my skill and brought out the best in me.
"I'm passionate about young women expressing themselves and bringing out their potential and I can see that happening here.
"I have been blown away by the remarkable show of talent here."
As well as a hall, the facility includes a classroom, an office for PE staff and changing rooms.
It is kitted out with equipment for all sports, plus an electronic scoreboard.
Head teacher Richard Wilkins said: "The hall has been many years in the planning and building and many obstacles have had to be overcome for us to be able to stand in this outstanding building."
Former head teacher Vicky Squirrell, who stepped down from the post last summer, returned to see the hall for which she had spent many years lobbying.
The hall was funded by a £2.2m grant from the Labour Government. The school had to find a further 10 per cent from its own funds, but the arrival of the new Government saw all schools' capital funding cut by 80 per cent leaving the Ursuline needing to raise the balance by fundraising.
Deputy Head teacher Daniel Foster, who ran the fundraising campaign, admitted it had been a stressful time but was proud of the fact that £70,000 had been collected in the past two years.
He said: "This is a wonderful development for us. We have never had a sports hall here.
"The grant paid for the construction of the hall but the problem was we had a shell but not the cash to furnish it and equip it.
"The PTA has been fantastic and given us £22,000 towards it.
"With the current economic climate, fundraising is not easy but the students have been magnificent and we have a core of around 450 who among them raised a significant amount."
The girl who raised the most cash in each year received a certificate from Denise.
The top fundraiser overall was Abby Cook, who was unwell and unable to attend but was praised for collecting nearly £800.
Claire Bateman, 16, collected money when she took part in the school's sponsored walk in aid of the sports hall and, along with other fundraising projects, collected more than £400.
She said: "I very much enjoy sport and I look forward to using the hall as much as possible."
Lobbying friends and family helped Katherine Dodds, 13, raise £500. She said: "Now it's here it makes me want to take part in school sport more."
Despite only being at the school for just over a term, Phoebe Hollingsworth, 11, has made a big contribution to the hall, and made her the winner for Year Seven.
She said: "The new hall just makes PE lessons much better."
Baking cookies and cakes to sell at break and lunchtimes enabled Sophie Barrow, 15, to raise almost £200 towards the hall.
She said: "It's a magical experience to know I have been a part of this and helped make it happen."
