Football Legend Sir Bobby Charlton visits Furness College

Football legend Sir Bobby Charlton visited Furness College on Wednesday 9th November for a presentation to one of its B.Eng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering First Class Honours students, Neil Brace.
 
The 37 year old Sellafield commissioning engineer who travelled from his Workington home to Furness College for four years to complete his part-time degree course, was awarded an Institution of Engineering Technology (IET) prize of two years’ free IET membership for his outstanding research into landmine detection using magnetic pulses to scan ground and detect land mines.

The award was presented by Sir Bobby Charlton, founder and trustee of the charity ‘Find A Better Way’ (www.findabetterway.org.uk). The charity has been founded to improve the lives of individuals and communities who live with the threat of landmines. At Manchester and Lancaster, Find A Better Way is supporting research projects to develop better methods of undertaking humanitarian landmine detection as an aid to the clearance and removal process that will free communities from landmines. The charity was officially launched on Monday 1 November at Lloyds of London where the ongoing research projects of Lancaster and Manchester were presented to the risk management community who have generously committed to support this cause.
 
The visit was instigated by Furness College Engineering Technology Curriculum Manager, Ken Seddon through his involvement with the trustees of  ‘Find A Better Way’ Charity and his work with Lancaster University lecturer Bob Mackin. The BEng is validated by Lancaster University and supported by the University of Cumbria. It was through Ken’s work and commitment to this charity and through his own research into acoustic research into landmines, that Ken encouraged his students to further progress the research that would help land mine detection.
 
Mr Brace said: “I’m pleased with my degree result, and to get this prize is the icing on the cake. All our work is important from a humanitarian point.” Mr Brace, who undertook 100 mile-round trips once a week to complete his degree, said: “I definitely chose the right place to study. All the tutors are great.”

Anne Attwood, Principal of Furness College said, “It  was an honour to have Sir Bobby Charlton visit the college and we are incredibly proud of the invaluable research that Neil Brace has produced which will help and support the ‘Find A Better Way’ charity. I am also very proud of the hard work and commitment which Ken Seddon and his team at Furness College have given to their students to support and encourage this outstanding level of research at such a high level.”
 
Ken Seddon is thrilled with Neil’s success, “Neil was an outstanding student who was very conscientious and determined which is why his research is of such a high quality.  As well as applauding the quality of the project we are ultimately all delighted that it is being used to support and help a very important cause which will ultimately save lives.”