FORMER Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan has put a smile back on the faces of children at a Northumberland school.
The youngsters of Cleaswell Hill Special School at Guidepost were left stranded when thieves stole a valuable catalytic convertor from their school minibus.
The Variety Club Sunshine coach had been handed over by the man known as ‘Special K’ during his second spell as Newcastle United boss in March 2008.
But when Kev heard of the callous theft which put the bus out of action this week he immediately offered to pay the cost of repairs.
And when Variety Club regional chairman Bob Gladwin said they would chip in to share the bill, the school and the children were smiling again.
Assistant headteacher Mike Jackson said: “What a brilliant gesture by Kevin, and by Bob.
“It makes all the difference, because the final bill, which will come to £1,300, was going to come out of school funds.
“We can’t thank them enough. That sort of money isn’t easy for us to find but this makes all the difference.”
The thieves got under the bus to unhook the convertor while it was parked outside the school overnight. Police branded the theft “cowardly” and Keegan himself said: “It leaves you lost for words.
“My wife Jean and I will happily write a cheque and send it to the school to cover the cost of repairs.
“We know how important the bus is to the kids and I remember how delighted they were to receive it back in 2008.
“The Variety Club does a great job and it’s horrible that people can come along and take away something that has been donated to a good cause like this.”
