Students meet military top brass

STUDENTS from Warrington’s Priestley College visited the heart of the British Armed Forces – and met some of the top brass.
The public service students spent time at the Ministry of Defence in London, speaking to top officials and seeing for themselves the control room.
Student Thomas Johnson, who hopes to work as a mental health nurse in the Army, said: “We walked into a room that looked just like an office, but it was where all the people in charge of the military were working.
“To them it was just another day in the office, but it was exciting for us to be in there and see it in action.”
During a tour of the MoD building some of the students were invited into  Minister of State for the Armed Forces Mark Francois’ office while others were photographed in the room where Anna Soubry, Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, makes her big decisions.
They then visited Henry VIII’s wine cellar beneath the building thanks to access granted by Andy Gillman, who has worked with Priestley College for several years to give students an insight into the workings of the MoD.
During the two-day study visit they also saw The Woman in Black theatre production, visited Saville Row, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace and The Clink Prison Museum.
However, for 19-year-old Liam Hill it was seeing the MoD in operation that may prove a life-changing experience.
The former St Aelred’s School pupil was planning on becoming a fireman but is now reconsidering his options and may go into security work.
“Seeing the security around the place just made me think what a great job it would be so I am looking into that now,” he said.
Picture shows the students in one of the Minister of States’ offices.