Saints legend is the guest of honour at Robert May's (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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Saints legend is the guest of honour at Robert May's
5:38pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in Local By Chris Gregory
Lawrie McMenemy with Carl Fryer (left) and Daniel King
SAINTS legend Lawrie McMenemy was the guest of honour at an anniversary of an Odiham school department for pupils with behavioural difficulties.
The 76-year-old former Southampton FC manager gave a speech to around 25 former students and their families at Robert May’s School, in West Street.
The event was held in the school’s main hall to mark 10 years of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Resourced Provision, which was the first centre of its kind to open in Hampshire.
Pupils with conditions such as Asperger syndrome and autism spend the majority of their time at school in mainstream classes, but attend the centre to get help with organisation, managing anxiety and social skills.
Manager Nicole Lowe told The Gazette that Mr McMenemy was invited to speak because he had previously raised money for the National Autistic Society.
She added: “I thought he was a very good speaker and he was absolutely inspirational. The students really listened to what he had to say and had a very good evening.”
Headteacher Susan Rafter spoke to the guests and there was also an acoustic guitar performance by former pupil Carl Fryer, who comes from Basingstoke.
In March last year, Mr McMenemy, a former assistant England coach and Northern Ireland manager, opened the school’s £500,000 artificial football pitch.
