A school hoping to reach new audiences during an open day spread the word a little further than intended.
A balloon given out during the event at Roundhay School in Leeds was accidentally released and found the next day– more than 400 miles away in the Netherlands.
Jaap Heldring said he was walking through woods with his partner just outside the town of Hoogeveen when he came across the balloon.
After doing research online to try to trace where it had come from, Mr Heldring contacted the school by e-mail to inform them of the discovery, sending photographs of the balloon and the site where it was found.
Headteacher Neil Clephan told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “It is amazing to find that a Roundhay School balloon travelled so far in just one day.”
He added: “I’m aware that Roundhay School has a far reaching reputation but not even I could have imagined us becoming known in the Netherlands!”
Visitors to the school were given balloons with the school’s logo on during the open day, which was held at the site on Gledhow Lane on Saturday, October 6.
It is believed that a pupil in Year 6 accidentally let go of one of the balloons.
Just 24 hours later it was found in the woods close to the country’s eastern border with Germany.
Roundhay School employee Jane Bailey was also thrilled to hear from Mr Heldring.
She told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “To travel such a distance in just one day is truly remarkable.
“Roundhay School did publicise the Open Day but never expected it to reach such a wide audience.”
The school in north Leeds invited hundreds of current and prospective pupils and their families to the open day event.
In September, the secondary school became an ‘all-through’ school, taking on pupils from the four years old to 18 years old.
For more information about Roundhay School, visit their website at: www.roundhay.leeds.sch.uk
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