Olympic medallist

10:38am Wednesday 15th November 2000

ONE of Britains top athletes has been back to school to encourage todays pupils to get involved in sport.

Steve Backley, Britains Olympic silver medal javelin thrower was at his old school, Beths Grammar School, in Bexley Village, to open its new extension.

The new Millennium Centre includes a new sports hall, conference centre with video conferencing facilities and equipment for practical demonstrations in any subject, eight new classrooms, a drama hall and practice suites, a music technology room with electronic instruments and computer facilities and new music practice rooms.

After cutting the ribbon to open the centre, Mr Backley toured its facilities and watched them being used.

The new buildings cost £1.6m and means the school has been able to take five forms of entry for the first time, since September.