One grateful apprentice, two proud Coachmakers

TThe Bicester Scramble is a superb meeting of classic cars and vintage aeroplanes held twice a year at the aerodrome near Oxford.

The heritage site hosts a series of bespoke businesses aimed at supporting vintage cars and aeroplanes. One such company is Heritage Skills Academy, which recruits, trains and develops apprentices by teaching traditional engineering principles, skills and knowledge combined with cutting edge technology where appropriate. The Coachmakers helps apprentices and employers who wouldn’t otherwise be able to take advantage of the apprenticeship programme, by providing bursaries to cover accommodation and transport to attend training at HSA’s academies at Brooklands Museum and Bicester.

In hanger one there was a magnificent Bristol Flying Scout Type C restored by its owner. Next to it was a wonderful Rolls-Royce Armoured Car that was brought back from Mesopotamia, or Iraq as it is now known, believed to be used by T.E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) when he helped Faisal the 1st in the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire.

The Rolls-Royce was restored by the The Tank Museum, Bovington under the supervision of Duncan Masters with the assistance of Aaron Smith who was supported by the Coachmakers throughout his apprenticeship at HSA. Like all apprentices, Aaron was employed by the museum at Bovington from day one of his apprenticeship, and continues with them as a skilled engineer since successfully finishing his apprenticeship.

As Liveryman Richard Haycocks and I were admiring the magnificent historic vehicle, Aaron thanked us for assisting him in his career. He is now going to work on the Tiger project at Bovington.

Head of STEM for the Charity Committee, Liveryman Mike Malone, whose grandfather fought in WW2 in the Long Range Desert Group, will soon join me on a visit to the museum to explore the potential of working together on a future STEM project. Watch this space.

Aaron Smith with the Rolls-Royce