Lord Patel visits Carrwood Primary School, Bradford (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Lord Patel visits school ahead of pupils' visit to Parliament

11:00am Friday 5th October 2012 in News

Excited pupils gave Lord Patel of Bradford their seal of approval when he called in at Carrwood Primary School yesterday, ahead of a trip of a lifetime he has organised for a class of ten-year-olds.

In two weeks’ time, 23 boys and girls from the Bradford school will travel to the Houses of Parliament for a day to see the paintings and treasure kept in the hallowed halls of government.

“It is part of an initiative called Art House, which is one of many ways we are reaching out to engage young people in the world of politics,” said Lord Patel.

After a career as a respected advisor on drugs, mental health and judicial matters, he was made an independent peer in 2006 and brought two mementos of that honour to show the year 6 class.

“I’ve got my Royal Warrant with the Queen’s Seal and also my Coat of Arms, which I should have up on a wall somewhere, but I’ve never got round to it!” said Lord Patel, who once worked as a probation officer in nearby Holme Wood.

“The Houses of Parliament is such a big, awe-inspiring place that I thought it might be useful to show the children some slides of it and explain a things about it advance so they are really prepared for the trip.

“Also, this is a very good school which does a lot of motivational work and I know how tough this area can be – I used to work here.”