WE GO back 21 years for this week s Days of the Old School Yard…when the thought of Newham staging the Olympics seemed pie in the sky. Only the late Tony Banks, MP for Newham North West and later West Ham, was convinced the dream would become reality. Bu

WE GO back 21 years for this week's Days of the Old School Yard...when the thought of Newham staging the Olympics seemed pie in the sky.

Only the late Tony Banks, MP for Newham North West and later West Ham, was convinced the dream would become reality.

But one Newham school had a visit from an Olympic sportsman.

Rower Gavin Stuart put his oar in at Forest Gate Community School- and the kids loved it.

Gavin spent a day with first, second and sixth form pupils at the school in Forest Street.

He took assembly for the second years. Then he helped with a first year maths class, using an Olympic theme.

Later he joined sixth form geography students who were looking at industry in Kenya.

And, of course, he found time to visit the gym, where he is pictured, centre, putting the girls and boys through a training workout.

Gavin was a member of Britain's rowing eight which came fourth in the Olympic finals. He also rowed in the winning Oxford team in two Boat Races.