The star of BBC’s Animal Park was the celebrity guest at the CGi Technology Challenge at Rue Maingy Activity Centre. Teams of teenagers from all the secondary schools had a rare chance to give politicians a good soaking by firing wet sponge balls from wooden catapults they had designed and built together.

Mr Fogle, who has spent more than a dozen holidays in Guernsey, said he had been impressed with what the students had achieved in such a short time. ‘I’m amazed at how well they’ve cooperated with each other considering the groups were mixed up so they weren’t working with their classmates,’ he said. ‘It’s been a taster of the real world for them where they will often be expected to work with people they don’t know.’

Mr Fogle first came to the public eye during Castaway 2000 when he volunteered to be marooned on the remote island of Taransay, in the Outer Hebrides, for 12 months. He has since become a familiar face presenting programmes such as Wild In Africa, Holiday and Cash In The Attic. He has also been involved in many adventures, such as running across the Sahara Desert for WWF and rowing across the Atlantic with Olympic oarsman James Cracknell in just 49 days.

He gave an inspirational speech to the teenagers, stressing the importance of never giving up in the face of adversity. ‘Throughout my life I’ve had people telling me I can’t do certain things, but by remaining determined I’ve managed to achieve a lot, despite the odds,’ he said. ‘There were times when I nearly gave up, such as when my boat capsized in the middle of the Atlantic. ‘Days like this are great because they get kids out in the open, instead of staying at home playing computer games all the time.’

As an icebreaker, the teenagers had to make audio devices using only parts supplied to them. St Anne’s student Yasmine Dupont, 14, said she had found the day to be a lot of fun and had met many pupils from other schools. ‘Our machine did really well and I think Ben has attracted more people to make this a bigger event.’ Elizabeth College student Ben McLaughlin, also 14, said his team had come up with plenty of ideas despite never having met before. ‘The design we settled on was the simplest and easiest to build, but strong and adjustable at the same time.’

Among the States members in the stocks were Deputy Francis Quin and deputy Commerce and Employment minister ºCarla McNulty Bauer. Deputy Al Brouard, a representative of the western parishes, also volunteered for the Middle Ages-style punishment. ‘The event is good fun and gives children a varied view of technology,’ he said
‘I’m delighted to come and support this event. Celebrities such as Ben Fogle really encourage the children by giving them somebody they can relate to.’

The best machines of the day received prizes, with the International Law Systems-sponsored team winning most accurate catapult, Point Of Sale taking best icebreaker and SSL claiming best overall catapult design. The event was sponsored by NRG and managing director Paul Wilkinson said it had been successful in promoting interest in technology on the island. ‘Ben has been absolutely amazing by talking to all the kids and taking a genuine interest in everything going on,’ he said. ‘The contestants have shown a tremendous capacity to work well together, despite having never done so before. ‘It has caught their imagination and opened their eyes to what they can achieve when they put their minds to it and work as a group.’

Article courtesy of the Guernsey Press