Treloar’s welcomes Lady Mayoress and Alderman and Sheriff Alastair King DL of the City of London
On Tuesday 7th March, students and staff welcomed Lady Mayoress, Alderman and Sheriff Alastair King DL and Sheriff Andrew Marsden for the annual visit of the Rt. Hon the Lord Mayor of the City of London to Treloar’s.
The Civic party were greeted by Head Students Charlie, Laurie, Alex, Daisy and Gracie, before joining Masters and Prime Wardens from over 20 different livery companies also attending the event.
Treloar’s Chair of Trustees, Dr Victor Olisa QPM, welcomed the guests, followed by Treloar School and College Principal, Martin Ingram, who highlighted the latest Outstanding Ofsted result for Treloar College, published on the 7th March.
The guests were treated to a live demonstration of the new Ability Drive software by two of our highly specialist occupational therapists. This ground breaking software, developed in the US, enables young people to drive a power wheelchair using their eyes. Treloar’s is the first college in the UK to offer a driving solution for those that are unable to drive using conventional driving controls such as a joystick or switches. Sheriff Alastair King bravely took a short test drive around the hall much to the enjoyment of the members from the Worshipful Companies of London.
The guests then enjoyed a tour of the campus that allowed them to see different classrooms and observe a range of activities taking place, including School Science week activities, an art class, college employability skills and how Treloar’s delivers education alongside independence skills.
The College employability and vocational class researched and prepared questions for the Civic party and were keen to present their new business idea to support local shops and businesses around Alton to improve their accessibility for disabled people.
The Aldermanic representative Sheriff King gave a personal address to the audience, saying how touched he was by some of the things he had seen during the day, highlighting the extraordinary technology which enabled him to drive a powered wheelchair with his eyes, the employability pathway and the warmth of students and staff. The day came to a close with a recital of a short poem Disability trumps all by Reuben and an incredibly moving dance performance by Hannah, both Treloar College students.
The annual visit always provides an opportunity to celebrate the special relationship Treloar’s has with the City of London and the livery movement and showcases all the things which make Treloar’s one of the UK’s few outstanding specialist schools and colleges in the country. We couldn’t achieve this without the generous funding of Livery companies, Trusts, corporates and private donors.