East Preston pupils revel in £363,768 motoring marvel

Rolls-Royce stopped by the East Preston Infant School to show children the ins and outs of how the firm creates some of its top-of-the-line models.

Sixty pupils, from years one and two, had the chance to look around the Rolls-Royce Phantom extended wheelbase, worth a whopping £363,768.

The visit was all part of the company’s commitment to the Government’s See Inside Manufacturing initiative.

The scheme aims to encourage manufacturers to get children and young people more involved in engineering, potentially inspiring some into the industry.

Helen Cordell, of Rolls-Royce, said: “We were delighted to support a local school as part of the See Inside Manufacturing initiative.

“The response from the pupils, and particularly their interest in manufacturing, was fantastic.”

During the trip to the Lashmar Road-based infant school, the car company had a chance to see first-hand the pupils’ own fine motor mechanics club.

The after-school scheme, launched this term, aims to improve the youngsters’ fine motor skills which will help with writing and hand-eye co-ordination.

Children had the chance to quiz Rolls-Royce staff on the luxury car. Some of the fine motor mechanics club members were even given a guided tour around the Phantom by Tom Lejasmeiers, who joined the company as an engineering technician apprentice in 2010.