ENGINEER Andy Millar from Kelly Bray recently found himself in the House of Lords, when he was presented with a national award to recognise his voluntary work with schools throughout the region.

Andy is one of over 19,000 STEM Ambas­sadors in the UK, professional scientists and engineers who provide valuable expertise and support to teachers and pupils through the national STEMNET agency.

As well as giving talks to pupils, providing industrial expertise to teachers and judging county wide engineering competitions Andy has also successfully designed and organised many totally new schools' constructional activities, including robots, bizarre musical instruments, and a metre tall Cornish mine engine!

In recognition for this work, all carried out in his spare time, Andy was named one of STEMNETs top six 'Most Dedicated Ambassadors,' receiving a certificate from Roger Highfield, the Editor of the New Scientist, at the House of Lords reception in London.

Afterwards, Andy said: "This was a real honour, and a complete surprise, but what I really hope is that it will encourage more professionals to give up even half an hour to go and help at their local school, and also to remind schools that we are there to help if they need us."