‘No Wires’ Club Caught on Video, Again
For the sixth year running, Christie Intruder Alarms treated sixteen hard working pupils from Riders Junior School in Leigh Park to a helicopter flight to mark their achievements throughout the school year and, for the second year running, we’ve videoed it!
The weather was a bit disappointing – overcast with only a few sunny spells but the rain held off and nothing could dampen the excitement of the children and their families who gathered at Goodwood for a picnic as well as the flights. The resounding verdict was “Wicked!”.
Riders Junior’s Head Master, John Dean, says “The helicopter trip is the highlight of the children’s year, a great incentive for them all. Everyone works so hard throughout the year and even those who don’t get chosen join in by watching for the helicopter and waving and cheering as it flies over, so it’s a special occasion for the whole school.
Christie Intruder Alarms has been sponsoring these helicopter flights since 2004 as part of their unique Partnership Agreement with Riders Junior School. The Agreement was formally signed in March 2005 in the presence of Havant’s MP, David Willetts, the Mayor of Havant and other dignitaries.
The Partnership came about when Riders approached CIA to sponsor their achievement awards. The school felt is was important to acknowledge the children’s efforts but with no money available for prizes, they took the unusual step of looking to the business community to help.
Barrie Christie believes in education; CIA’s Apprenticeship Scheme is an acknowledged industry leader and all staff have the opportunity for on going training. He also feels that it is important for local businesses to invest in the community so the decision to support Riders School was an easy one.
Barrie says, “John Dean and his team, the children and their parents work hard to make this a successful school and it is important to support their efforts. There has been a steady improvement in the school’s SATS results since John Dean took over, and it has been very satisfying to see a continual improvement in the school as a whole over the years since the Achievement Awards were introduced.
“And apart from everything else, I have a particular soft spot for Riders because it was the first of many schools to be fitted with a monitored CIA burglar and fire alarm.”
John Dean says, “I don’t imagine there’s another junior school in the whole of England who is able to offer their children the incentive of a helicopter ride. It inspires our children to learn and this in turn acts as a catalyst for the betterment of the whole school. We really value and appreciate CIA’s commitment to the school.”
Hampshire County Council presented Christie Intruder Alarms with their Employer of the Year in Support of Education award in 2005 in acknowledgment of their contributions to Riders Junior School.
Click link to see the story and video of 2009’s flight 2009 Flight
Click link to see the photo gallery of the 2008 flight
Click link to see the photo gallery of the 2007 flight
Click link to see the photo gallery of the 2006 flight
Click link to see the photo gallery of the 2005 flight
*A monitored alarm is one that is linked via the telephone line or cellular network or both to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC).
An ARC is a permanently manned call centre whose staff are dedicated to monitoring security alarms and contacting the right Authority – i.e. the Police usually, or the Fire Brigade in the case of a fire – if there is an activation. An ARC is bound by strict legislation which ensures the highest standards of operation.
Read more about Alarm Monitoring
