This year’s Schools’ lecture was held at South Wigston High School together with other high attainers from Babington and Lancaster Academies. Chris Jackson, Equinor Professor of Basin Analysis at Imperial College, London, entertained and informed his young audience with his experiences filming with the BBC 2 part documentary, ‘Expedition Volcano’.

He described the geology of the volcanoes Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira deep in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the wide ranging effects of volcanic explosions on the natural environment and the local populations.

Mrs. Susan Webb, Head Teacher, of South Wigston, the host school, said, ‘The students were buzzing after the talk and really animated talking about it’.

On a general note, in recognition of the Lit and Phil’s schools’ lecture programme, Mrs Webb also said, ‘At the beginning of the project students were trying to avoid coming to the lectures. Now we have many requests to join the group.’ ‘This year we had our first alumni gain a place at Trinity College Cambridge to read English Literature; the boy comes from the local council estate and there is no history of further education in his family. Next year we have learnt that two students have offers from Oxford. One to read Spanish at Queens, and the other to read Engineering at Exeter College. With the help of supporters like you, miracles really do happen!’