Engineering ways to solve real problems

Young engineers have honed their skills to solve real life problems and win the title of Best Junior Club in Great Britain.A team of four 10 and 11 year olds from Fairhaven Primary School represented their after school club and East Anglia in the national final in London, rubbing shoulders with royalty and celebrities.

Young engineers have honed their skills to solve real life problems and win the title of Best Junior Club in Great Britain.

A team of four 10 and 11 year olds from Fairhaven Primary School represented their after school club and East Anglia in the national final in London, rubbing shoulders with royalty and celebrities.

The children had to design and make a system for raising and lowering flags in order to send a morse code message to the next team in a code breaking relay race. The challenge was observed by Prince Andrew who was interested in how they had worked together.

The event was held over three days and the children had a stand on which they exhibited their work.

The children met a myriad of ministers and Lord Sainsbury who was interested in their robotic scarecrow and saw a use for it in some of his Far East charity projects in scaring birds away from rice in the paddy fields.

The after school club is run by two community volunteers Cris Chalk and John Grayson who both have engineering backgrounds.

Emily Bond, 11, said: “I couldn't believe we'd won, it was just brilliant.”

Elliott Armes, 10, said: “It's a dream come true. To be the best in the country is amazing.”

Mr Grayson, said: “Our club is a great community success and I am delighted that our talented youngsters have been given national recognition.”