Arkwright Scholars sponsored by Rochester Bridge Trust received a tour over, under, and within Rochester Bridge.
The behind-the-scenes tour, led by Tim Belcher-Whyte of Hyder Consulting, the engineer for the Rochester Bridge Trust, gave three sixth-form students the opportunity to learn more about the importance of civil engineering.
“The scholars had a chance to take a thorough look at the construction detail of the differing structures, considering the history of the crossings and the impact of civil engineering. The tour ended with a question and answer session, where we discussed everything from the use of rivets in bridge construction to what qualifications I took to become a bridge engineer. It was good to see the students asking such considered questions and obviously taking an interest in their futures.”
Åsa Lofstedt of Putney High School and Adam Lord of Trinity School, Croydon, are both directly supported by the Trust as Bridge Wardens’ Scholars. The third student, Kai Smith, from St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington, has also been invited to take part in the opportunities offered to the scholars because of his interest in bridge building.
The Arkwright Scholarships Trust supports the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Sixth form students go through a rigorous application process before being chosen to enjoy the patronage of any one of a range of relevant organisations. Rochester Bridge Trust’s sponsorship is part of its commitment to encourage young people to consider a career in civil engineering.
Previous scholars sponsored by Rochester Bridge Trust have benefited from a range of engineering experiences and one-to-one mentoring.
See Arkwright Scholarship Trust to find out more about becoming an Arkwright Scholar.
Notes:
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