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'No Keira, we are not selling your autograph on eBay'
Arthur Mellows Village College has been left baffled that Hollywood star Keira Knightley might have feared a signed photograph donated for a special project has been sold.
Arthur Mellows Village College has been left baffled that Hollywood star Keira Knightley might have feared a signed photograph donated for a special project has been sold.Staff and pupils at the school, in Glinton, near Peterborough, were delighted when actress Keira Knightley sent them an autographed snap for their good luck exam wall.
The wall features a host of celebrity pictures and signatures from stars wishing the youngsters good luck with the GSCE exams.
But their joy was tarnished after suggestions surfaced in a national newspaper that 24-year-old Miss Knightley, who stared in the hit films Bend it Like Beckham and Pirates of the Caribbean, had thought the pupils were trying to sell her autograph on internet auction site eBay.
And proving that the photograph is still firmly in the possession of the school, headteacher Mike Sandeman posed for an Evening Telegraph photograph of the wall, complete with Miss Knightley's snap.
Head of media at the college Billy Zaidi said the school had not heard of any concerns from Miss Knightley.
And he vowed the wall would be used again to help inspire youngsters in the future.
He also said the school was still getting responses from celebrities on a daily basis.
Despite the blip, Mr Zaidi said the idea had been a great success – and given the pupils a taste of the limelight, as well as boosting exam confidence.
He said: "Some pupils genuinely liked the idea of celebrities taking an interest in them.
"And because the national media have featured the wall, it has made them feel they matter, rather than being in a small town hidden away.
"They made a big splash on a bigger stage."
A spokesman for Miss Knightley's agents United Agents said: "There was an initial fear that the photograph was to be sold on.
"But we have received assurances from the headteacher that this was not the case."
Words of encouragement
THE school has received 30 responses from kind-hearted celebrities who have passed on words of encouragement.
Some of those who have responded include former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Olympic rowing gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave, leading businessman Sir Alan Sugar and controversial comedian Russell Brand.
Headteacher Mike Sandeman said: "We are delighted with the responses so far. They are from really great role models, such as Kelly Holmes, Ben Ainslie and Steve Redgrave."
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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