Perched to the North of Scotland’s former Capital city, Townhill has a special connection to Richmond, the place where the family firms’ first generation of builders constructed their first homes. Forty years later on a frosty morning, Construction Manager Bill Bonnar was more than happy to visit and answer the children’s questions on the building trade.
As part of the Curriculum for Excellence, Mrs Marjorie
Mitchell’s class had chosen 10 questions to ask Bill, including ‘how to build a
wall’; ‘how a roof is made’; ‘which machines are used’; and ‘how much it costs
to build a house’? Bill explained what tools and equipment you need to
construct a sturdy wall, the kind of vehicles involved including forklifts and
diggers, the technology used in putting a house together as well as how you
lift a roof on to a house, a complicated business involving cranes! The children were particularly interested in
Green Energy and how Richmond makes homes that are Eco friendly and energy
efficient. They asked questions on how
to make solar panels and the technology involved, and seemed very informed on
all things environmentally friendly, a great sign for the future. Bill also
touched on health and safety issues, reminding the children to always stay well
clear of a building site which is full of hidden dangers.
Like sponges, they soaked up all this information and were
enthusiastic about becoming future house builders, architects and designers, talking
about the different roles involved in putting a house together to create a
great place to live and grow. Bill reminded them to keep working on their
arithmetic, an essential skill for all builders!
At the end of term the children of Townhill Primary School
will share what they have learned with their parents at a fundraising concert
at the school as well as displaying their specially made shoebox houses and
gardens, and birds-eye plans of a garden.
The money raised from this event will go towards a class trip next term.
