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Moore power to your elbow

Kathryn Ryan
9/ 8/2007

ST GEORGE'S High School is pulling no punches in its fight to remain open.

And when you're in a fight who better to have in your corner than champion boxer Jamie Moore who has pledged his support in the battle to save the Roman Catholic school in Parsonage Drive.

The ex-pupil was so inspired by his experiences at the Catholic secondary that he has the school's Latin motto -Certa Bonum Certamen or Fight The Good Fight - tattooed on his body.

The British light-middleweight champion told how the words he learned as a schoolboy continued to inspire him in adult life.

He said: "When I started the school I asked one of the receptionists what the motto meant and she told me.

"Later, when I was starting off and wanted to get a tattoo I remembered what it meant and thought it would be quite appropriate.

"It is a good school and know from speaking to the teachers that they do a great job.

"I have been down quite a few times for prizegivings and to speak to the pupils. I have told them that if they need anything then I would be more than happy to help."

The 28-year-old sportsman from Walkden, who left the school in 1995, is one of the country's most respected fighters and tipped to take a world title.

The 600-pupil school in Walkden has been earmarked for closure as part of a £110m shake-up of Salford schools.

Deputy head Pete Fisher said: "Jamie has been a strong supporter of the school and has often come to talk to the pupils and give his encouragement.

"Everyone in the community, from our MP Barbara Keeley to ordinary mums and dads, recognises how good the school is."

Education bosses say keeping the school open cannot be justified because numbers of Catholic children are set to fall and there are already too many places in the region's religious schools.

But supporters argue the school has the fourth best results in the authority and is heavily oversubscribed.