SCHOOLBOY WINS VIP TREATMENT
06 May 2003
James Roberts from Grange Park was treated like a VIP when he took a helicopter flight over the Priory Vale development in north Swindon - his reward for winning a design competition.
James won his flight for designing a 'Bridge of Dreams'. During the helicopter ride James, 11, was able to inspect the new bridge across Thamesdown Drive which will be used by pedestrians, cyclists and even horse riders when it opens later this year. The bridge, near the Orbital Shopping Centre, will give residents of Priory Vale easy access to the shops and to public footpaths and bridleways in the area. The visually striking bridge is constructed entirely from structural tubes, enabling it to be designed to be light and slender.
James' bridge of dreams is an even more ambitious structure - linking Earth with Mars. His design even includes a warning light to prevent rockets from crashing into his flexible space bridge.
Almost 800 Swindon primary school children in year five and six took part in the 'Bridge of Dreams' design challenge - devised by local teacher Linda Knight. The prize was to officially open the Priory Vale Bridge, and to be treated like a VIP. However, James, a pupil at Windmill Hill Primary School, had his VIP treatment early as he and his family are due to emigrate to Melbourne in Australia next month.
Taking off in a helicopter was "like being lifted up by a huge giant" said James. "It was really good, we went over my school and over my house and over the bridge as well," he added. Other parts of his prize included a camera, a portable cassette player, and GWR FM T-shirt.
To mark the competition, Priory Vale's developers donated £2000 to local charities - half going to the Great Western Hospital's Evolution Appeal, and the remainder being distributed to charities through the GWR Community Trust.
The Priory Vale Bridge
The cable stay bridge, built by Edmund Nuttall Limited, was designed by Swindon firm Halcrow and fabricated from tubular steel by specialists in Cleveland before being installed in stages. It will open in September when the connecting footpaths, cycleways and bridleway are completed.
Bridge facts and figures
Length - 68 metres
Height (A frame) - 32 metres
Deck height - 7 metres
Weight - 70 tonnes.
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