Bloodhound showcar raises smiles

IMechE volunteers give children an Easter treat to remember

Institution volunteers gave children an Easter treat to remember when they organised a Bloodhound education day for 7- to 13-year-olds at Lincoln University’s new Engineering School.

With the Bloodhound showcar on display next to the Engineering School, the Mayor of Lincoln Councillor Kathleen Brothwell and Robin Renshaw, the Sheriff of the City of Lincoln, joined children, their families, IMechE student members and volunteers, and Dr Jill Stewart FIMechE from Lincoln, for an introduction to Bloodhound SSC.

Ninety children took part in education sessions led by Tony Parraman, Bloodhound’s head of sponsor liaison. Having learned the theory, they had the chance to put their new-found knowledge into practice by building balloon-powered Bloodhound cars to race. 

In the evening, Parraman gave a more technical presentation and answered questions from a very interested audience. The event was sponsored by eight local organisations including the university. Jim Brown, of the institution’s Lincolnshire Panel, said: “This is a prestigious event for Lincoln. The key indicator that this event was a success was that every child, parent, helper and organiser left with a big smile on their face. It was great to see the children’s satisfaction at building their own car, overcoming problems during testing – just like real life – and constantly modifying to improve performance. 

“We feel sure this has inspired the children to think about careers in engineering and raised the profile of engineering in Lincolnshire.” 

• For more information about Bloodhound or to become an IMechE ambassador, see: www.imeche.org/bloodhound