Inspiration in Education nominee – Kevin Ford
Inspiration in Education nominee – Kevin Ford
Retired technology teacher Kevin Ford has impacted the lives of thousands of young people during a lifetime of volunteering.
The 78-year-old, from Blurton, has been a GreenPower STEM ambassador since retiring from teaching at the age of 59.
His volunteering takes him into primary and high schools across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire where he encourages pupils to develop a passion for engineering and other science and technology subjects.
He runs his own annual Goblin kit car race day for schools and also supports the work of KMF Engineering to the point where they say they simply couldn’t do some of their award-winning STEM work with schools without him.
Kevin, a former teacher at Madeley High School in Newcastle-under-Lyme, has also been a lifelong Boys Brigade leader after joining at the age of eight. He has been the leader of the 8th North Staffordshire Boys Brigade, which meets at Longton Methodist Central Hall, since 1978.
Jenny Johnston, People and Culture Manager at KMF, has nominated Kevin as an Inspiration in Education in the Your Heroes Awards.
She said: “Kevin has moved heaven and earth and literally spent money out of his own pocket to make sure the children of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire are inspired.
“He goes into schools, runs kit car clubs and gets kids involved. It’s really inspirational. KMF’s race day for schools couldn’t happen without Kevin. I couldn’t have pulled it off without him.
“Kevin went into every school we engaged with and made sure every car was safe before race day. He’s the catalyst that makes it happen.
“Thousands of kids would have missed opportunities without him and he doesn’t even claim his petrol money.”
Kevin began his career as an engineer before moving into education and teaching design and technology for 30 years.
He said: “I’m just interested in working with young people and trying to develop their interest in engineering and their knowledge of STEM subjects.
“It’s really pleasing that Gareth, Jenny and the team at KMF feel that they want to nominate me in this way.”
Dr Liliana de Lillo, Associate Professor at the Power Electronics and Machines Centre at The University of Nottingham, said: “I first met Kevin around 10 years ago and his enthusiasm struck me straight away. He was in the middle of hundreds of children and he was amazing. I didn’t realise until later that he was working as a volunteer.
“He is so consistent. He’s always there delivering with such enthusiasm and inspiring not just the children but also the grown-ups. His energy is never-ending and very contagious.
“I have huge admiration for him and the fact that he will do anything he can to support children and young people and get more people involved in engineering and STEM subjects.”