Lichfield’s Maple Hayes Dyslexia School has flying visit

Pupils at Lichfield’s Maple Hayes Dyslexia School were greeted with a flying visit from the great nephew of a famous British aircraft designer who developed the Spitfire plane.

Children in Key Stage 2 have been learning about World War II in their history lessons and to help bring the subject alive, wrote to Julian Mitchell, who is related to Reginald J Mitchell CBE.

Having written their invite in fountain pen to the Lichfield-based school, Mr Mitchell attended the school to talk to them more about aircraft and what an important role it played in the war.

Over the past few years, Mr Mitchell has been involved in a project called Operation Spitfire which has seen the rebuilding of a Spitfire and its installation in 2011 at a newly built museum in the centre of Stoke-on-Trent , which is where his uncle lived.

Jenny Rhodes, a teacher at Maple Hayes said: “It was fantastic for the children to meet with  someone so involved with history. The pupils were absolutely absorbed by what they were hearing and seeing. By the end of the visit, they had taken in so much information and developed a much better understanding of the development of the Spitfire planes and how  important they were during the war.

“Three pupils were even presented with small Spitfire planes to reward them for their input to the visit, which included writing the letter, passion on the project and enthusiasm for meeting Mr Mitchell.” she added.