HASLINGDEN High School has pulled off something of a coup by securing the services of one our sport’s true greats as the guest speaker at a special fund-raising dinner to be held in the School Hall on Friday, November 14.

Dr Ron Hill MBE, the legendary Accrington-born distance runner, will be introduced by race organiser and enthusiast Andy O’Sullivan, another man who has received the MBE for his services to athletics.

Not only should it be a great evening, with a chance to win some great prizes, or even bid for a two-week holiday in a villa in Florida, but the money raised will be used for a worthwhile community sports project.

The school is aiming to develop their existing all-weather surface into a state-of-the-art floodlit Astroturf facility with new changing rooms.

The development will benefit the whole Haslingden and Helmshore community with local sports clubs, primary schools and individuals will be able to hire it.

The majority of the £400,000 project will come from grants from Sport England and the Football Foundation but the school is required to put forward £30,000, and that is where “Gastro 4 Astro” comes in.

Tickets are £25 each, or a table of 10 can be purchased for £200.

They are available from the main school reception or they can be reserved by telephone on 01706 215726.