Engineer credits school for space-industry career

Glen Kightley says he has gone from "being excited by science and maths classes" at school to working on "space agency missions"

An engineer has thanked his former teachers for inspiring the career that launched him into the space industry.

Glenn Kightley, who studied at Wrenn School in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, between 1993 and 2000, is now responsible for designing thermal control systems used in spacecraft.

The school is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, marking its formation in September 1975 with the merger of Wellingborough Grammar School and Wellingborough Grammar School for Girls.

Mr Kightley, a thermal engineer at Airbus, said: "All the staff [at Wrenn] were encouraging me and were really opening my eyes as to what you could do with science and technology. My thanks go out to them because it's really helped me achieve where I am today."

Wrenn School is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year

Wrenn School is named after Harold Wrenn, the final headmaster of the former boy's grammar school.

To mark its anniversary, a summer festival is being held on Saturday for past and present members of the school community.

Amy Bunker, an assistant principal at Wrenn, said it was "only fitting" to have an event to commemorate the milestone birthday.

She added: "I only joined in September 2023 and absolutely love the place.

"Everyone talks about the Wrenn family, and within a matter of weeks of working here I knew exactly what they meant. It's a really great school."

Mr Kightley said: "A lot of my memories [of Wrenn School] are based around being excited by science and maths classes.

"To think I got into this industry and be where I am now working on space agency missions... it's an amazing achievement. To look back at the little kid that was at Wrenn School, it feels like I've come a long way."