Forty-four pupils joined forces with soldiers from the Royal Engineers and Langdon the Lion for a day of bridge building fun today, Thursday, 19th March.
The annual event – which is now in its 11th year and is held at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham – saw children from nine primary schools come together for a day of talks and activities, culminating in a bridge building competition.
Top prize for a bridge able to take 8kg of weight went to Benedict House Preparatory School in Sidcup, with second and third places going to Napier Community Primary School and Luton Junior School respectively.
Sue Threader from Rochester Bridge Trust, which sponsors the competition alongside the Madeline Mabey Trust, said: “We feel it’s important to teach children about civil engineering from an early age and to see them learning and having fun is great. They were all very enthusiastic about bridge building and we were really impressed by their efforts.”
Amber Cottee from the Royal Engineers Museum added: “The competition is a fantastic opportunity for children from local schools to visit the museum and meet real soldiers while taking part in exciting engineering activities.
“Throughout history, the Royal Engineers have built bridges for the Army in many places around the world, and this day enabled the children to gain an insight into the world of civil and military bridge building.”
The schools taking part were: Kingfisher Primary School, Luton Junior School, St Mary’s Island Primary School, All Saints Primary, New Road Primary, all from Chatham; St William of Perth Primary School and Delce Academy, from Rochester; Benedict House Preparatory School, Sidcup; and Napier Community Primary, Gillingham. Five pupils from each school were invited along to join in the day of activities.
Langdon the Lion, the mascot who promotes the Trust’s engineering education packs to primary schools, oversaw the afternoon competition. He said: “Like my ancestors, I’m happiest when I’m sat guarding a well-built bridge. I’m pleased to say all the bridges were of a good enough standard to deserve my guardianship.
“Well done to all the children who took part, but an extra big paw on the back to the competition winners from Benedict House.”