Brunel meeting is a tall story (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Brunel meeting is a tall story

11:28am Thursday 2nd March 2006 in Swindon

THERE was no fooling youngsters who came face to face with an Isambard Kingdom Brunel lookalike they immediately spotted the fact he was too tall to be the engineer.

The Year Three and Four pupils from King William Street School came face to face with the man himself as they helped launch a new fleet of Thamesdown buses, one of which is called Brunel.

The children, along with Swindon mayor Ray Fisher, hopped aboard the bus and were taken on a guided tour around the railway village by Brunel, otherwise known as actor Martin Williamson.

Liz Pafford, a teacher at the school, said: "His height was the first thing they noticed, followed by a conversation about how long he had been dead. They tried to catch him out at every opportunity.

"I think they have all really enjoyed it and it has been fun," she said.

"Many of them just see Swindon as the town where they live and it is great for them to see how much fuss is being made of the town for the Brunel celebrations."

John Owen, managing director of Thamesdown Transport, said: "It has been a great day and was a lovely way to launch our ten new buses."