Friends of Woodlawn History
In 1982 a group of parents, teachers and friends started fundraising to build a hydrotherapy pool at Woodlawn School for the pupils with physical, medical and sensory needs. The committee took the name Woodlawn Appeal for a Swimming Pool (WASP). The 1980s saw the start of the Great North Run and many other fun runs which inspired WASP to organise a Xmas Pudding Fun Run on Whitley Bay seafront. To make sure no one forgot the date they ran it on Boxing Day 1985, and all finishers received an individual Christmas pudding. A local graphic artist Ken Ayre created the wasp and xmas pudding logo.
A Run has taken place on all but two Boxing Days since 1985. Snow and ice saw one Run postponed to February and another cancelled altogether. Woodlawn Appeal for a Swimming Pool was successful. Work commenced on the pool in 1988 and it was officially opened on 9 December 1992 by HRH Diana The Princess of Wales. WASP became the Woodlawn Parents and Friends Association, and more recently renamed to Friends of Woodlawn, a group of volunteers who raise money for additional equipment and special projects which the school is unable to fund. Volunteers are welcome from parents, grandparents and any other relatives, carers and friends of children who attend Woodlawn School.