Local schoolchildren visit Downing Street

Three West Sussex schoolchildren were VIP visitors to Number 10 Downing Street last week where they had tea with Cherie Blair.

The pupils were accompanied by Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert who had been invited to bring three schoolchildren and their parents to Number 10 Downing Street on Thursday (2 November) to have tea and a tour of the building.

The children - Tom Richardson (15) from Downlands Community School, Ed Wise from Steyning Grammar School (15) and Claire Amaladoss (13) from St Philip Howard Catholic High School - were each selected by their schools after Mr Herbert approached the Heads to ask if they would like to recommend anyone for the visit.    

Tom was selected because he is Head Boy of his School, Claire for her work as a member of the School Council, and Ed because of his interest in politics.

Mr Herbert met the students in Parliament and first gave them a guided tour of the Palace of Westminster, including the House of Commons.  Then the group walked up Whitehall to Downing Street, where they had their photographs taken outside the famous black door, before going in to meet the Prime Minister's wife.

The children had tea with Mrs Blair and were then taken on a tour of No. 10, including the main State rooms, and the Cabinet Room.

Commenting on the visit, Nick Herbert said: "I very much enjoyed meeting Claire and Tom.  I already knew Ed because he came for some work experience in my office last summer and was very helpful, so I was pleased to be able to pay him back.  I hope that they all enjoyed the visit and the tour - I certainly did."

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