AN OLYMPIAN was invited to open a brand new boathouse at a school in York over the weekend.

Olympic rower, Greg Searle MBE, attended St Peter's School in the city to open the new boathouse. Greg delivered a morning masterclass to pupils from the school's boat club, which focused on the importance of making choices not sacrifices and inspiring the children.

Mr Jeremy Walker, head master of St Peter’s, said: “Rowing is an important sport at St Peter’s and the new boathouse is a fantastic facility, which is already supporting the excellence of our programme. It was wonderful to have Greg with us for the opening and he was truly inspiring.”

The Olympian answered questions from the pupils and gave them the opportunity to hold his three Olympic medals, before being presented with a Boat Club Pennant by current boathouse captains George Smith and Hannah Gowland.

A large number of guests then gathered at the boathouse for the opening. Those who had donated a brick to the boathouse fundraising campaign saw their bricks unveiled and donors who had sponsored the naming of a boat were thanked with a boat naming ceremony.

The boat naming was followed by speeches from Mr Walker and Greg Searle. The event concluded with a ribbon cutting ceremony, before the boats were carried from the newly opened boathouse and down to the River Ouse for a row past.