Daniel’s MOD Apprentice Success

Daniel Thorp has won the prestigious Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation MOD Apprentice Award and he has also been awarded third place in the MOD Apprentice of the Year.

Daniel (aged 21) currently studies Level 3 Vehicle Maintenance Repair at York College (one day a week) and is an MOD apprentice at RAF Menwith Hill. After leaving school Daniel started a Graphic Design course, however he soon realised that his passion was to work with vehicles. Now he is very happy to have changed direction and says: “I work on all types of on-site RAF vehicles; cars, trucks, buses, gritters, quad bikes, vans, grass cutters, etc. I enjoy all aspects of vehicle maintenance and repair. My experience of attending college one day a week, and having MOD student based training, is very good. When I finish my studies I will be a qualified Motor Vehicle technician for the MOD.”

On winning through to the final stages of the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation Apprentice Award, Daniel visited Sir Henry Royce’s house in Northamptonshire to give a presentation of the brass plumb line he had developed. His plumb line was made out of recycled materials; a selection of off-cuts he found hanging around Menwith Hill. He developed his invention further to incorporate a scribe (for marking out) for which he had to learn how to use the lathe. Daniel’s winning ‘plumb bob line’ can be used in the motor trade for aligning vehicle chassis and testing for damage after collision.

Daniel is overjoyed to have won the prestigious MOD Apprentice Award, saying:“It’s great to get this kind of recognition for my work. I have been congratulated personally by the RAF Commander and my success has been very well received at RAF Menwith Hill, which is a relatively small RAF base. I am looking forward to visiting Whitehall to be presented with my award by Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox.”