It's get thanking day and we want to say a big thank you Colin Jackson

Date: 13/11/2009

The NSMW Girls have loved working on National School Meals Week and we're already wondering what we will do with our lives once this year's is over...no doubt the planning will soon begin for next year!

One of the highlights for us has been working with Colin Jackson. We first met him at the filming for the Get Active Day where he showed us what a true professional he really is. The day was so much fun and we are sure you will agree the exercise videos are just brilliant! Karen also met Colin when he was speaking at the School Food Trust Marketing Conference in September, where she was also speaking.

Colin arrived at the hotel we were all staying at late on Sunday evening. He had been busy filming in Kenya with Usain Bolt so he was extremely tired and we arranged to meet up at the school at 8.30am. Both Karen and Nicola had a late night as we had to stay up to put the result of Britain's favourite school meal live at 12.01am and our alarm was set for 5.30am so we could get ready for the big day. As we were having breakfast so early we didn't think we'd bump into anyone so Karen went to breakfast with the biggest, frizziest hair you could imagine and we both looked very tired. Colin was sat bright eyed and full of beans with our get active expert, Chris Lee and he looked a lot more ready for the day than we did at that time. However his energy must have rubbed off on us as 20 minutes later we were ready to go to the school (with straight hair).

Colin arrived at 8.30am and met many of the NSMW team including Beverley Baker, Chair of LACA. What was great about him was whether he was speaking to a team of young people, the Mayor of Tower Hamlets, representatives from LACA or us he was constantly upbeat and positive. Whatever was asked of him he did with a great smile and nothing was too much trouble. Even when the curtains didn't open for the launch it was Colin who took charge and between Nicola, Chris and Colin they pulled the curtains back.

You could really tell that National School Meals Week was a cause that Colin truly believed in as he talked about his experience of school meals at his Secondary School. Obviously to a sports person of his level eating a balanced diet was vital for him to have been at his peak for training. He explained how his catering staff went out of their way to make sure he got a hot meal at lunchtime. And then he announced the result of Britain's favourite school meal - Roast dinner with sponge pudding and custard!

Later in the morning Colin spoke to a group of pupils who are all keen and excel at sport. They all listened with fascination as Colin talked about how he believed his over-confidence had cost him a gold medal at the Olympic Games. He then went on to talk about how he had to overcome this disappointment that then led to him breaking the World Record and becoming World Champion. The one message that really struck a chord with both of us was when he told the young people to day dream...as he was proof that sometimes day dreams really do come true. This actually brought a tear to our eyes as we watched the video back later in the week! If his words of wisdom had this effect on us imagine what an inspiration he was to young people who are potentially just at the start of their sporting careers!

Next it was over to the school dining hall where Colin put on his hat and white jacket and joined the ladies in the kitchen to serve Britain's favourite school meal. Lots of laughter could be seen and heard as he put the Yorkshire puddings, vegetables and gravy on the children's plates. He then joined a group of pupils to taste the delicious meal.

After lunch it was time for the Get Active session which was run by Chris Lee from Trojan Training. The school teachers commented they had never seen the pupils work so hard as Colin and Chris motivated them to put everything into the circuit. Chris asked the students to give them the scientific name of different muscles in the body and said if they got it right he and Colin would do ten press up's each. This backfired when one student answered correctly and without a second thought they both did ten each. You have to watch the video blog below to see which completed ten first!

A group of Primary School pupils joined us for the next session and Colin was as great with the younger children as he was with the old. They were learning how to make coleslaw and he encouraged them all to get involved. He then helped them make thank you cards for their school cooks ready for the ‘get thanking' day and even coloured his own card in. However he was slightly concerned his colouring wouldn't be up to standard as art wasn't one of his strong points.

Despite a long and tiring day Colin still remained upbeat when everyone else had left and he encouraged Karen as she did a piece to camera for the ‘get filming' day. This is not something that Karen enjoys doing and his support meant a lot. The day ended with all three of us talking to the camera about how much we had enjoyed the week and working together. It was a great way to finish what had been a very successful and enjoyable launch for us, Colin, the school and all the guests who attended.

Our thanks go to Michael Hales and his team in Tower Hamlets for organising such a brilliant day. The team was on hand throughout the day to make sure everything ran smoothly.....and it did!

We want to take this opportunity to thank Colin Jackson on behalf of LACA and AVF Marketing Ltd for everything he did! He really is a great ambassador for school meals and believes that what we are all doing can help many young people learn to lead a healthy and active lifestyle!

Personally we don't think we could have found anyone better to be the face of this year's National School Meals Week.

The NSMW Girls