Zoe has tea at Number 10

Mon 23rd November 2009 2.24PM

A BOLTON teenager was one of the guests of honour at a Fairtrade anniversary tea party at Downing Street. The party was hosted by Prime Minister's wife, Sarah Brown, in order to celebrate the 15th birthday of Fairtrade products. Fifteen-yearold Zoe Cooke from Thornleigh Salesian College in Bolton, was joined by other Fairtrade campaigners, celebrities, and Fairtrade businesses from around the country to mark the special anniversary. Zoe was born in the same year that the first three products with the Fairtrade mark appeared on shop shelves in 1994. This year Bolton Council re-committed itself to the town’s Fairtrade status and Thornleigh is Bolton’s first Fairtrade School.

The council is currently working with Thornleigh to set up a network to help other Bolton schools achieve the award. Zoe said: “I was really excited but also quite nervous about going. I loved looking round 10 Downing Street and everyone was really friendly. Fairtrade is important and I buy as many Fairtrade products as I can such as bananas.” Councillor John Byrne, Bolton Council’s Executive Member for Development and Regeneration, added: “Thornleigh is the first Bolton school to get Fairtrade School status and it’s a brilliant achievement. Our sustainable development team has worked with Thornleigh to help them achieve the award and we’re now working with around 30 Bolton schools to help them gain Fairtrade status.”

Thornleigh’s Chaplain and Fairtrade Group coordinator, Father David O’ Malley said, “We’re proud to be invited to Downing Street. This represents a new stage in the development of Fairtrade Schools in Bolton and for Thornleigh as the hub.”