Pupils from ten primary schools will be discovering the engineering techniques used by bridge builders through the ages and putting their own skills to the test at the Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham, on Wednesday, March 16. After a series of introductions to the challenges faced in bridge construction, the young students will take part in a bridge building competition sponsored by Rochester Bridge Trust.
Bridge Clerk, Sue Threader, said:
“The school teams will be racing against the clock to build the strongest bridge – and their bridges will be put to the test to decide the winners. One of the Trust’s Wardens, Russell Race, will assist with the judging and present the competition winners with their awards.”
“Kent and Medway have a long and distinguished engineering history, and we need to build on that history to encourage the engineers of the future. The Trust is committed to supporting education initiatives that introduce young people to the fun and excitement of engineering and science.”
Schools taking part in the 2011 Bridge Building competition are Queenborough First School, Sheppey; Riverview Junior School, Gravesend; Wouldham All Saints School; Allington Primary School, Maidstone; St Mary’s Island School, Chatham; Brompton-Westbrook Primary School, Gillingham; Riverside Primary School, Gillingham; Trinity School, Rochester; St Mary’s RC Primary School, Gillingham; and Byron Primary School, Medway.
The Royal Engineers Museum and Library celebrates the story of the Corps of Royal Engineers and the history of military engineering. The Royal Engineers Museum Bridge Building event for primary schools is also backed by The Mabey Group of Companies – a major British organization specialising in bridging, steel fabrication, plant hire and construction products.
Notes to editors:
1. The Rochester Bridge Trust is a charitable trust that exists to maintain the old and new bridges at Rochester and serve the travelling public. It is the only surviving bridge trust still serving its original purpose and it has served the people of Kent since 1399. The Trust also supports numerous community and education projects across historic Kent and Medway.
2. The Trust’s assets all derive from endowments of land and money in the 14th and 15th centuries and are carefully managed in order to provide an income to fund bridge maintenance and local charitable grants. The Trust receives no external funding and is regulated by the Charity Commission.
For more information:
The Rochester Bridge Trust
5 Esplanade
Rochester
Kent ME1 1QE
Tel: 01634 846706
Fax: 01634 840125