Nick Raynsford MP joined Year 8 pupils from the John Roan School to visit Number 10 Downing Street last Friday.

Thirteen year old Ramandeep Pawar wrote to Nick asking him to invite the Prime Minister to visit the school. In response, Gordon Brown wrote back to Nick inviting him to bring Ramandeep’s class to have a look round Number 10.

Ramandeep brought along 23 of his classmates, two teachers, and Headteacher Des Malone, to meet with Nick for a tour of one of the most famous houses in the country. Pupils were able to take a seat in Winston Churchill’s favourite chair, take a peak in the Cabinet meeting room, and also have a rest on the sofa that Barrack Obama and wife Michelle sat on during their recent visit to Gordon and Sarah Brown. Pupils were also interested to see the famous staircase showing photographs of all of Britain’s previous Prime Ministers, from Robert Walpole to Tony Blair. Though one pupil pointed out that the staircase is also famous for featuring in blockbuster Love Actually and the Catherine Tate Christmas Special!

Nick says: ‘It was a real pleasure to accompany children from the John Roan School on this visit. I was particularly impressed with Ramandeep’s initiative in contacting the Prime Minister. This shows that politics is relevant to all ages, and demonstrates John Roan’s commitment to encouraging their pupils to become active citizens in the community’.

Number 10 is not normally open to the public, but you are now able to take a virtual tour and read about the fascinating building at www.number10.gov.uk/tour/