Isle Of Wight Schools Cast Net Wide To Interrogate Captain Tom

"What is the biggest ship you have worked on?"

This and many more questions were put to Wightlink’s Captain Tom Vincent when he visited the Federation of Church Schools of Shalfleet, Freshwater and Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.

Captain Tom, who has worked all over the world on ships ranging from 100,000-tonne oil tankers to Wightlink’s hybrid flagship Victoria of Wight, spoke to all-school assemblies at Freshwater and Shalfleet.

Questions included the role of the Merchant Navy in bringing goods including food, cars and oil from around the world into the UK and how to get started on a maritime career.

He told the children:

“It is more than just a job, there is something very special about being at sea, whether it is seeing whales and dolphins, or just the feeling of being in the middle of a vast ocean."

Captain Tom usually works nights on Victoria of Wight and sails between Portsmouth and Fishbourne four times when he’s on shift.

“It was fantastic to welcome Captain Tom into both schools at the Federation for an Inspire Talk. He enthused the children, talking about his work - the children asked some super questions,” said Headteacher Elizabeth Grainger.

“At the Federation, our Inspire Talks are designed to support the children in thinking about what they would like to do when they are older.

"Wightlink has been a huge supporter of this initiative and it was a pleasure to have Captain Tom to visit.”