WIDE eyes, big smiles and happy chatter filled a party pavilion at North Weald when more than 600 children with special needs enjoyed a festive celebration.
Clowns, zoo animals, face painters, and sporting celebrities including former boxer Frank Bruno and Paralympian Dan Bentley, plus Father Christmas himself, mingled with the youngsters from special schools across Essex and east Hertfordshire.
This was the 27th annual Children's Sporting Lunch run by the Presidents Sporting Club / Essex Disabled Sports Foundation.
Not only are the youngsters invited to have a good time and enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner, disco and cabaret, but they also have their achievements celebrated.
Chairman Mike Parker said: "The highlight of the event is the award ceremony which recognises endeavour rather than elitism in sport.
"We give awards to youngsters who may have learnt how to swim two or three strokes, been chosen to represent their school in football or taken part in an outward bound type course."
One special guest was Essex-based Paralympian Dan Bentley, who was wearing his bronze medal from London 2012, where he was part of the boccia team, a sport similar to bowls or petanque.
He said: "This is brilliant.
"It's great to see the children having such a fantastic time, and being rewarded for trying hard in sport."
Frank Bruno, the former world heavyweight boxing champion and erstwhile Brentwood resident, is president of the charity and attends the lunch every year.
He said: "I have been involved for 26 years now, and am very proud to be president – it is a quality charity.
"The children here today are fantastic, an inspiration to us all."
A party of 10 children from the Castledon School in Wickford were having a great time, tucking into their roast lunch.
Pupil Crystal Joy, seven, gave the day a big thumbs-up. She said: "I love it."
"I really liked meeting the clowns and the animals."
Senior teaching assistant Sara Grosvenor-Rigby added: "It's absolutely brilliant.
"They're all really enjoying themselves."
Her views were echoed by Yvonne Goouge, acting head teacher of Ramsden Hall School in Billericay.
She said: "It's a fabulous event.
"We come every year and the boys really enjoy it."
Pupil Joe Ferris received an award on the day for at the age of 11 being chosen as part of the school football team.
He said: "I'm gobsmacked!"
With his face painted in red and black stripes Matthew Priestman, 11, sits down with his classmates from the Endeavour School at their table and prepares to receive his roast chicken lunch.
"It's just really good," he said.
"I like the clowns and the animals – I got to stroke an owl. It was so soft."
Cameron's classmates from the Endeavour were also having a great time.
Wearing Santa face paint and shiny hats, Harry Brown and Rhys Caffrey, both aged 10, agreed that the clowns were the highlight of the show, but they were also looking forward to the after-lunch cabaret and visit by Father Christmas who was handing out early gifts.
Harry said: "It's really good here; there are lots of activities going on.
"I'm having a really great time."
Rhys said: "I came last year so knew what it would be like.
"It's really good. I like the dinner too and you can get popcorn."
Next to them was the school's award winner of the afternoon, Cameron Connolly, 10.
Proudly sporting a tiger-painted face, Cameron said he was excited about walking up to the front of the venue to collect his trophy from Frank Bruno.
He told the Gazette: "I can take it home to show my mum.
"She will be proud."
Janet Jolly, learning support assistant at the Hogarth Avenue school, said: "Cameron was nominated because he has made tremendous progress over the past few months.
"He has become much more confident, happy to have a go at everything and can now work independently as well as with others."
She added: "This event is marvellous.
"We come every year and our children absolutely love it. They think about everything.
"It's just perfect for our children."
