Falkland Primary School pupil's out-of-this world experience

Meeting with hero British astronaut

A FALKLAND Primary School pupil had an out-of-this-world experience recently when he met a British astronaut.

Cameron Tiley, aged 10, met his hero, British astronaut Major Tim Peake, at Portsmouth University, at the Principia Schools Conference, run by the UK and European Space Agencies.

Using Major Peake’s mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as inspiration, children and schools were able to apply for an opportunity to display a poster or give a presentation at the event.

Cameron’s school research project about Major Peake and life on the ISS was selected out of the hundreds of entries and presented by Cameron to 70 other schoolchildren, teachers and scientists at the conference.

“This is a daunting task for anyone, but more so for Cameron since he has the autistic spectrum disorder Asperger’s syndrome as well as dyslexia, dyspraxia and sensory processing disorder,” said his mother, Kimberley Tiley.

“Everyday life can be a huge challenge for Cameron, but he presented with great confidence and knowledge, earning compliments from the scientists present on the breadth of his research and his enjoyable presentation.”

Each child had the opportunity to meet the famous astronaut and have a photograph taken with him.

Cameron said: “I did feel a bit nervous giving my presentation, but I think it went well.

“Tim Peake was really nice and he talked to me about the special tea pot he designed.”

Major Peake said during his closing comments at the conference that he hoped his six-month space mission would inspire a new generation of space explorers.

“For one boy from Newbury this is certainly the case,” said Mrs Tiley.

PHOTOGRAPH: CHRISTOPHER ISON