Former Harlem Globetrotters star Paul Sturgess met up with youngsters at a Stockton-on-Tees primary school last week to encourage them to achieve well in life.

The 7 ft 8-inch former Basketball player – and Britain’s tallest man – was among a number people attending a three-day Careers Fayre for children as young as five at Rosebrook Primary School.

Other key figures in attendance to inspire schoolchildren were Premier League referee Tony Harrington and musician Eddie Huntington, who is Stockton Council’s Head of Education.

A wide range of other work sectors were represented including the police, health, ambulance service, football coaching, wildlife, animal welfare and the legal profession.

Speaking at the school assembly, Paul Sturgess said: “The purpose of me visiting schools is to demonstrate to children how different I am, but being different is a good thing and you shouldn’t shy away from who you are. You should focus on the things you are good at one day you can hopefully make a career out of it.”

Fiona Nicholson, Acting Headteacher at Rosebrook Primary School, said: “This is the first time that Rosebrook has organised a Careers Fayre on this scale, and it was a huge success.

“It was great to have high profile individuals like Paul Sturgess and Tony Harrington in school along with the many other people representing a wide range of careers.

“It is important that children start to consider at a young age what they would like to do in the future and events like this will help inspire them to follow their dreams.”

Paul Sturgess added: “Being as tall as I am doesn’t come without its challenges; but where I could have shied away from the world because of my differences, I instead harnessed them in a positive way to take on some incredible opportunities – like playing for the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters.”

Rosebrook is home to 460 pupils between the age of two and 11 and is one of ten primary schools under the umbrella of Ad Astra Academy Trust.

Rosebrook is one of ten schools under the umbrella of Ad Astra Academy Trust

Andy Brown OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Academy Trust, commented: “We had a broad spectrum of careers represented over the three days and we are so grateful to everyone for giving up their time to attend.

“Events like this are an important part of the curriculum as they help encourage children to learn and to start to think about what career paths they may wish to pursue.”

The other Ad Astra schools are Barnard Grove, Brougham, West Park and West View in Hartlepool, Crooksbarn in Stockton-on-Tees, Ayresome and Sunnyside in Middlesbrough and Kelloe and Deaf Hill in Durham

Click on the link below to listen to Paul Sturgess during his visit to Rosebrook Primary School.

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