Principal's Special Guests Experience Bicton College

Bicton College Principal David Henley greeted delegates in his home this week, welcoming them from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania as part of Bicton Overseas Agricultural Trust’s latest intake.

The seven students were invited to dine with David and wife Leigh, along with BOAT trustees Bill Vellacott and Mike Pash, giving them an introduction to Bicton College, it’s background, people and it’s close links with the Bicton Overseas Agricultural Trust.

The Trust aims to improve agriculture in the developing world by providing effective training programmes that can be further taught and adopted in different climates and countries. The students are funded by the charity to travel to Bicton and undertake a 6 week intensive course aiming to provide them with key skills in leadership, communication and project management that they can take home and implement successfully.

David Henley says, “We were delighted to offer our hospitality to the BOAT students from Africa, and the welcome meal was a great opportunity for us to get to know each other. The staff and students have found exchanging knowledge about our different cultures and circumstances very interesting, and I’m so pleased that Joseph, Joyce, Kenneth, Josephine, Peter, Nelson and Pamela are enjoying their short but valuable time at Bicton so far.”

BOAT Chairman Fred Harper (pictured with the students) has arranged an in-depth yet focussed timetable for the students this year, maximising resources and time. Working with the Bicton College engineering department, he has also helped organise the classic restoration of ‘Gretel’, a 1962 Massey Ferguson tractor which is being raffled off with all money raised being donated to BOAT.

Please see www.boatagtrust.co.uk for further details!