ST ALBANS: A secondary school has been handed a memento of one of the country’s proudest sporting achievements.

Paul Ramsey, headmaster of Verulam School in Brampton Road, was the grateful recipient of a cricket bat signed by each member of the England team that recently retained the Ashes in Australia.

The piece of memorabilia was donated by John and Eleanor Lewis, parents of Year 7 student David Lewis.

Last November the couple were in Hobart with the England squad as Eleanor is employed by team sponsor Brit Assurance. She was given a free bat by Adidas and while the team were preparing for their final Ashes warm-up match she asked every member to sign it for her.

On the couple’s return to the UK they donated the bat to Verulam School, which is now having it framed for the rest of the pupils to view. Mr Ramsey said: “We are delighted to receive such a wonderful donation and hope it will inspire our cricketers of the future.”