"Never Give Up on Dreams", the message from Gordon Burns to APS - July 2011

Iconic broadcaster Gordon Burns told pupils at Altrincham Preparatory School never to give up on their dreams.

As the Special Guest at the Marlborough Road school's annual Speech Night, Gordon Burns, who has lived in Hale for 30 years, said: "It doesn't matter how impossible, how daft, how far away your dreams might appear now - never give up on them."

The BBC Local news anchorman recounted his own dreams of how as a child growing up in Northern Ireland he had dreamed of meeting his idols Alec Bedser, Bobby Charlton and Dennis Law and how through a combination of luck and audacity they had been realised.

"The important lesson here is that If you have a piece of luck, then work on it and make use of it."

APS Headmaster Andrew Potts said: "What a privilege to capture such a wonderful public figure to present our prizes and to entertain. Mr Burns' speech was perfectly pitched carrying a sound moral for all, let alone our boys. They were enthralled. "

APS donated a cheque to the Wellspring, a Manchester refuge for the homeless, of which he is a patron.
Mr Burns is pictured with two of the award winners Ollie and Alex.