11/08/10…Why is The High Sheriff of Oxfordshire waving her scissors about?

THE High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Marie-Jane Barnett, has officially opened a huge, new sandpit especially designed for disabled children and their friends.

The six metre sandpit at Thomley Activity Centre, Worminghall, near Thame, was funded by South Oxfordshire District Council and four other donors. It is a massive six metres long with a wheelchair accessible sand tray which ensures that children of all abilities can play together and is shaded by a stunning wooden gazebo to shelter children and their carers from the sun and rain.

Claire Acworth, Director of Thomley said: ?When asked what they wanted, the children said they wanted a big, deep sandpit in which they can dig to Australia. They can now do this! But more importantly, this simple design enables disabled and non disabled children to address this excavation challenge together!?

Based in Worminghall, on the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire boarder, Thomley Activity Centre is a recreational facility for disabled children, their families, friends and schools. www.thomleyhall.org

PHOTO: Oxfordshire’s jazz-singing High Sheriff, who lives at Towersey, scissors at the ready to cut the ribbon and declare the new Thomley giant sand pit, Open!