Helicopter fun for Market Drayton Junior School pupils

There were smiles all round when an RAF crew landed their chopper on a Shropshire primary school field to let more than 350 staff and children explore the aircraft.

Going up in the world – headteacher Tim Hayward and Flight Sergeant Jason Brooke with pupils Shannon Smith and Jamie Allwood, both nine
Going up in the world – headteacher Tim Hayward and Flight Sergeant Jason Brooke with pupils Shannon Smith and Jamie Allwood, both nine

Flight Sergeant Jason Brooke, from RAF Shawbury, wanted to thank Market Drayton Junior School for their help in preparing him for a new career in education when he leaves the forces later this year.

He was joined by two colleagues from the airbase as the Squirrel helicopter landed at the school just before lunchtime yesterday for a flying visit.

Flt Sgt Brooke, who lives in Market Drayton, has been training as a teaching assistant on a course at Telford College of Arts and Technology ahead of his return to Civvy Street in December after 22 years.

During the work placement part of the course, he has been getting hands-on experience by going to the school.

He said: “We decided to use some of our flying hours to come and say hello and thank you to the school for its efforts in helping me to become a teaching assistant. I’ve been going there once a week for the last year so I know the school well, and they know me.

“It was nice to let the school see what I do for a day job, and we had at least 350 children and staff all looking around the helicopter in just one hour.”

Flt Sgt Brooke, who was performing crewman duties when the helicopter flew in, hailed the day as ‘really successful’.