Team GB Olympian launches SPAR Lancashire School Games 2023-24

By James Hall & Co. Ltd

29 Nov 2023

SPAR Lancashire School Games 23-24 Launch 1.jpg.jpg

Team GB Olympic bronze medallist Holly Bradshaw inspired schoolchildren with her career achievements at the launch of the SPAR Lancashire School Games 2023-24.

Held at James Hall & Co. Ltd’s SPAR Distribution Centre in Preston, 55 schoolchildren from nine of Lancashire’s districts joined together to celebrate the launch with staff from James Hall & Co. Ltd, Active Lancashire, and the School Games Organiser Network.

They were greeted on arrival for photos with SPAR mascot SPARtan before enjoying a tour of the distribution centre, including ambient, fresh, and frozen warehouses, and the food manufacturing areas.

Sandwiched in between was an inspirational presentation from Holly, age 32, from Preston, who became the first ever British athlete to win a Pole Vault Olympic medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Holly said: “I was very excited to be asked to come back and speak at the launch the Lancashire School Games.

“I was very sporty at school and took part in the Games myself when I played football, so it was an honour to speak to schoolchildren about my time as a School Games participant and the career I have had as a Team GB athlete.

“I am currently in my winter training programme as I prepare for one last swansong at the Paris Olympics next year, after which I will retire from the sport, and I am looking forward to my final season of competition.”

Christoper Baron, age 9, from Heskin Pemberton CE Primary School, said: “I had fun at the School Games launch. Holly’s talk taught me to keep on trying to achieve what you want, and I think she has shown courage and bravery to succeed after surgeries.

“I also thought the warehouse tour was amazing. I loved seeing the food manufacturing area and learning about the deliveries to SPAR stores in Northern England.”

India Elkington, age 9, from Holy Trinity RC Primary School in Brierfield, said: “It was very interesting to learn how the food is made in a factory, especially all the sandwiches. I liked the big freezer best, but I think it gets colder in Brierfield!

“I loved Holly’s talk, especially learning that she played football when she did the School Games as I really like football. I learned that if you believe in what you can, do you can do it.”

The Lancashire School Games are run by Active Lancashire and the School Games Organiser Network and have been sponsored by SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd since 2006.

In 2022-23, the Games engaged 24,000 children in sport and activities across Lancashire through 23 feature events and competitions.

Adrian Leather, chief executive at Active Lancashire, said: “It was a pleasure to launch the Lancashire School Games once again at SPAR’s North of England Distribution Centre. It always amazes the schoolchildren who visit, and huge thanks go to James Hall & Co. Ltd for arranging this and for their continued partnership and support of the School Games for another year.

“It was also a huge privilege to welcome Holly along as our guest speaker for an inspirational presentation. I think everybody present in the room left feeling extremely motivated and we wish her well at the Paris Olympics next summer.”

Niels Dekkers, retail development director at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “We had a fantastic morning of fun welcoming schoolchildren to our distribution centre. Opening their eyes to the scale of the business is always an honour, and the reactions to our freezer area in particular are always priceless.

“Thanks very much to Active Lancashire and the School Games Organiser Network for arranging Holly to come along and inspire us all. Holly’s career journey is one to be proud of, adding wow factor to the event, and I would like to say good luck to her from everyone at James Hall & Co. Ltd in her preparation for the Paris Olympics.”

Latest news

1

Accrington-made Vita Advanced Mattress wins prestigious 'Best of the Best' Award at Interzum 2025 Dr. Emily Schweissinger - Evonik, Dr. Roland Hubel - Evonik, Dr Mike Murray - The Vita Group, Natalie Watson - The Vita Group, Chris Hupfeld - Coverstro, Dr. Annegret Terheiden - Evonik and Dennis Wagner - Covestro

Accrington-made Vita Advanced Mattress wins prestigious 'Best of the Best' Award at Interzum 2025

21 May 2025

2

Napthens advises Calico Homes on land acquisition for £23m Dovestone Gardens extra care facility in Burnley Paul Hardy

Napthens advises Calico Homes on land acquisition for £23m Dovestone Gardens extra care facility in Burnley

21 May 2025

3

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway Alan McBride Muse Will Town Defence Infrastructure Organisation Jennifer Chard Defence Business Services Cllr Lynn Williams Blackpool Council Garry Bowker Vinci

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway

20 May 2025

4

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities Skiddle cheque presentation to Alder Hey Hospital

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities

20 May 2025

5

Former Victorian Hotel approved for residential conversion The site

Former Victorian Hotel approved for residential conversion

19 May 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200pxtrident 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May
Freelancer Meet-Up May.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May

society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

Liverpool Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-881365363-4862066883-1-original.20241023-085714.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
23 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Liverpool Business Expo 2025

Aintree Racecourse , Liverpool , L9 5AS

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29
Artboard 15.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
29 May 2025 - 29 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin