Two Twickenham schoolboys visited 10 Downing Street as a thank you for helping the Prime Minister’s plane land safely during a work experience placement at Heathrow airport.

Twickenham School students Sam Newbold and Jack Brown marshalled a Royal Airforce plane carrying Theresa May in December 2017.

The pair were invited on a tour of Number 10 in recognition of their efforts.

Sam and Jack, both 14, said the highlight was getting the chance to sit around the cabinet office and sitting in the Prime Minister's chair. 

Jack, from Whitton, said: “You really had to make an effort to take it all in because you know you would not get the opportunity to do it again.

“Sitting around the cabinet table was a real highlight because you could picture all those famous politicians who had sat there before. You got a real sense of history.

“We sat in the Prime Minister's chair which had been sat on by Winston Churchill. That gave me goosebumps, it was incredible.

Sam, also from Whitton, said: “There is so much history in the rooms we visited and so many stories behind everything.

“The person who showed us around knew everything about the house and so was able to tell us what happened there.

“It is strange to think that all of this came from us being on work experience at the airport and helping the Prime Minister land her plane. 

Twickenham School headteacher Assal Ruse said: “What has most impressed me about these students’ men is just how keenly they embraced this opportunity.

“They returned to the school with lots of interesting stories about the history of 10 Downing Street which they shared with their peers.”