Our Patrons

Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP

About Boris In June 2001, Boris Johnson became Member of Parliament for Henley-upon-Thames. The Henley Standard often reports on his activities. He has worked as a management consultant, after which he became a trainee reporter for The Times and the Wolverhampton Express and Star (1987-88). Boris joined the Daily Telegraph in 1987, as leader and feature writer, and soon graduated to become EC correspondent (1989-94). Continuing with his rapid Telegraph success, he served as assistant editor (1994-99), but soon went also to the Spectator as political columnist (1994-95). He advanced to assistant editor and political columnist for the Telegraph, holding the position from 1995 to 1999, when he was appointed editor of the Spectator. Boris was born in New York on 19th June 1964. He married Marina Wheeler in 1993, and has two sons and two daughters. Boris is highly-regarded as editor of The Spectator, a weekly magazine of news, current opinion, humour and wit. He has appeared a number of times on Have I Got News For You.

Why Boris?

Boris is a very active constituency MP, who gets very involved with local matters and the community generally. Similarly, we at Woodcote Pre-school like to think that we play an active and important rôle within our community. Like us, Boris is passionate about what he believes in and stands for, but combines this with a relaxed and good humoured approach.

Since becoming our patron, Boris has been very supportive. He sponsored the "Arterial Flutter", one of the races at our Race Night, and helped us raise £1200 despite being under considerable professional and personal pressure at the time.

He is a particular supporter of the Woodcote Pre-school Inclusivity Fund. The Fund aims to give equality of opportunity to all, at the same time helping families on very low incomes try to improve their circumstances.

Boris is a man who cycles to work every morning, braving exhaust fumes and insults, which he aired on Room 101. Clearly, he is a man who shares our enthusiasm for organic gardening and looking after the environment in which we live.

Happy 40^th Birthday

On 19 June 2004, Boris celebrated his 40^th birthday. The Munch Bunch made Boris a birthday cake, which was iced and decorated by Pre-school children. They also sent him a card. Can you see the likeness??

Antony Worrall Thompson MOGB FHCIMA

About Antony In June 2005 Antony Worrall Thompson joined Boris Johnson as a patron of Woodcote Pre-school and, in particular, its parent and toddler group, the Munch Bunch. In addition to being a celebrity chef with a keen interest in promoting healthy eating for children, Antony is a local lad with a passion for organic gardening. These causes are very much in tune with the aims of Woodcote Pre-school. We pride ourselves on our long tradition of growing organic vegetables on our allotment and on being the only pre-school locally to provide daily, freshly prepared, hot meals. On joining our team, Antony said "it's great to see a small, charitable institution taking the initiative in promoting healthy eating and environmental issues." Antony is proud of his association with us, devoting a page to us on his AWT Online website. He recently included the Munch Bunch in his column in the Saturday Express Magazine. When Boris heard that Antony was joining him as a patron, he said "Woodcote Pre-school is leading the way in providing traditional, nutritious meals. Other schools would do well to follow their example".

This page was last updated on Monday 11 September 2006 Copyright © 2003–2008 Rob Hubbard and Woodcote Pre-school Group