Actor and presenter Reggie Yates returned to City and Islington College to meet the current crop of A-level media students.

The 31-year-old, who studied A-level media, art and graphic design at the college from 1999 to 2001, reflected on his 20-year career in showbusiness during a talk to learners.

The star, who was born and bred in Islington, found fame aged eight in the cult Channel 4 comedy Desmond’s before presenting BBC television shows Top of the Pops and The Voice.

He urged the current students to pursue their creative dreams.

Reggie said: “I grew up on the Mersey Estate [in Islington] in a home where there was pressure on me to pursue academic subjects, but I wanted to take the creative route which led me to studying at City and Islington College. I learned from my teachers that it is okay to have a vision of what you want to achieve and to go for it.”

A-level media and film student Korrie Powell, aged 17, said: “Meeting Reggie today was inspirational. The fact that he used to study here gives me hope that I can make it in the industry too.”

Pic: Actor and presenter Reggie Yates (front row, centre) with City and Islington College students

Staff and students from Somerset’s Bridgwater College rebuilt a replica of a cannon taken from Russia’s Crimean Peninsula 160 years ago following one of the British Army’s infamous military disasters, writes Paul Offord.

Rebuilding one of their town’s most famous landmark was a labour of love for a dedicated team from Bridgwater College’s engineering and construction departments.

A cannon had stood on the junction of Bath Road and Bristol Road in Bridgwater, Somerset, since 1857. It had been taken from enemy Russian forces three years earlier following the doomed advance of British cavalrymen that Lord Alfred Tennyson described in his famous poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’.

It is thought that the original cannon was melted down for munitions during the First World War. A replica installed in its place had become so badly damaged by weather erosion that it was removed by Sedgemoor District Council eight months ago and handed over to the college to be restored.

Staff and students who worked on the project quickly realised it was too badly eroded to be saved, so they crafted a replacement cannon and wooden stand matching the original design and measurements.

The team included advanced engineering learner Tom Greenwood, aged 26, level two engineering learner Bradley Edwards, 21, and level two bench joinery learners Harry Maddock, Connor Coles, Corey Simms and Lukas Stacey-Evans, all 17, and Matt Freitas, 18. Staff members involved were engineering technician Lyle Durrant, carpentry technician Jeff Arlidge and engineering workshop manager Geoff Fish.

And the cannon was installed at its traditional location, on a roundabout at the busy junction, two weeks ago.

Harry said: “It seemed to take forever to get the old bolts off but it was worth it. Seeing the cannon back on the roundabout made me proud to think we had worked on such an important historical local landmark.”

The cannon was originally installed by the council as a gesture of thanks to local resident Denis Heron, a soldier from the fourth light dragoons who survived the charge.

Mr Arlidge said: “I am a keen military collector and historian, so have especially enjoyed working with our team of staff and students on this project. My partner’s father also worked at the Bridgwater Royal Ordnance Factory site, where the replica cannon was originally built, so there is a family connection as well. This project greatly increased the students’ understanding of why the replica is in Bridgwater.”

Mr Fish said: “It’s nice to think we helped preserve this tribute to our local hero and that everyone will see it as they drive into the town. The project was really interesting because it meant using a range of engineering skills such as lathe, milling, welding and hand-fitting to replace broken parts.

“We had to take it apart first to see how bad the damage was and get measurements for all the individual parts that needed replacing.

“The old iron bolts were pretty rusted in place. It took three students leaning on a large wrench to move some of them and we used a lot of lubricating spray and old-fashioned wire brushes to get the rust off.”

The college did not charge for labour and the replacement materials only cost the council £900.

Derrick Cox, who managed the project for the council, said: “The cannon and its frame now look in much better condition following the works. We would like to thank the students and lecturers from Bridgwater College who gave their time to complete this project.”

The charge took place during the Battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854, in Russia’s Crimean Peninsula.

Confused orders led to around 600 members of the British light cavalry force charging at heavily armed Russian forces.

They did not gain any territory and around 245 British servicemen were killed.

Pic: Learner Tom Greenwood working on a metal bolt

Inset left: Carpentry technician Jeff Arlidge holding a photo of the old cannon next to the new frame

Inset right: The cannon after it was re-installed on the roundabout

Level two personal training student Jordan Albert secured his first podium finish in the Formula 4 motor racing class for junior drivers.

In only his second season of racing of any sort, and his first in Formula 4, the 17-year-old Moulton College learner took third place at Donnington Park race track, in Derby, two weeks ago.

It followed two top-five finishes two months ago in races at Brands Hatch, in Kent, leaving him in the top 10 in the overall championship standings.

Jordan said: “Balancing racing with education can be difficult but the college is very supportive. My tutors let me have time off for testing days at Silverstone when required and support me with any work to enable me to catch up.

“My ultimate ambition will be to race in Formula 1 and at Le Mans. I chose to do a personal training course at the college because it will give me the physiological, psychological and nutritional knowledge that I can pass on to younger drivers in the future.”

Craig Jackson, assistant director of curriculum, said: “Jordan clearly has outstanding talent in motorsport that has been equally matched in his application and dedication
to his college course.”

Pic: Jordan Albert. Inset: Moulton College learner Jordan Albert.

Flesh-eating zombies made-up by art and design students from Birmingham Metropolitan College took part in a charity walk through the city.

The students transformed the appearances of 300 people that went on Zombie Walk Birmingham 2014, raising £3,500 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Level three art and design student Viktoria Stanislavova said: “I felt so proud of all the work we did. Everyone gave us lots of positive feedback.

“Hopefully we’ll get the chance to support the event again next year.

“Now that we’ve had the practice, we’ll do an even better job and can offer a more specialised zombie make-up service to the people that come to us.”

Art and design lecturer Emma Buet said: “The students proved to be incredibly skilled at giving each zombie their own identity, which is something all professional artists need to be experts at.”

Pic from left: A charity walker having make-up applied by level three art and design student Laylah Carr, aged 16

Young boxers from South Gloucestershire and Stroud College ducked, jabbed and weaved their way to medals at an international boxing event in Ireland.

Jacob Croot and Toby Hacker, both aged 17, won gold and silver medals, respectively, in the Celtic Box Cup at Dungavan County, Waterford.

Both athletes, who are currently in the second year of advanced apprenticeship in sporting excellence courses, began boxing aged 13 for Downend Police Boxing Club, in Mangotsfield, South Gloucestershire.

Jacob, who fought in the 57kg weight class, said: “I am really pleased that I was able to bring back a gold to my college.”

Toby, who competed in the 71kg weight class, said: “The contest was tough but I would love to do it all again.”

Craig Turner, head of boxing at the college, said: “I am immensely proud of what the guys achieved in a prestige international tournament.”

Pic from left: Toby Hacker and Jacob Croot

Prince Edward officially opened a new £5.9m sixth form campus at Sandwell College.

He met students and was given a guided tour of the building which contains classrooms for arts, science and social science subjects, a café and photography and fashion show exhibition space.

It has been used by staff and students since the start of term but the prince unveiled a handmade glass plaque made by local artist Paul Floyd as part of the official opening ceremony.

Biology A-level student Alice Pledger said: “It was very interesting to meet him. We are not used to meeting royalty.”

Principal Graham Pennington said: “We were extremely honoured to receive a visit from our distinguished royal guest to mark this special occasion.”

Prince Edward said: “I wish all the students the very best of luck. I hope this sixth form continues to work as a magnet to encourage other students to learn the essential skills for the workplace.”

Pic from left: A-level biology student Alice Pledger, aged 18, and Prince Edward

A student who struck gold at the Wheelchair Basketball European Championships was crowned disabled sports achiever of the year for the Wigan and Leigh area.

Wigan and Leigh College level three sport learner Gregg Warburton accepted the accolade at the Believe Sports Awards 2014 ceremony organised by the town council.

It recognised the part he played in helping the Great Britain under-22 team win the Wheelchair Basketball European Championships, in Spain, last month.

The 17-year-old was handed the award by former soldier Derek Derenalagi, who lost his legs below the knee in a bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2007 and won gold medals for discus and shotput in last month’s Invictus Games for injured servicemen and women.

Gregg said: “I’m over the moon. I wasn’t expecting to win at all. My ultimate dream is now to reach the Paralympics and win gold.”

Sport tutor Joanne Bishop said: “Gregg is a fantastic talent and we couldn’t be more proud that he’s been recognised in this way.”

Doctors amputated both of Gregg’s lower legs when he was a baby because they did not contain fibula bones.

Pic from left: Invictus Games double gold medal winner Derek Derenalagi and Gregg Warburton. Inset: Gregg after winning the Wheelchair Basketball European Championships.