Boeing manager flies in to inspire Hatfield school children
Peter L Hoffman of Boeing with Andrew Newberry 9 who wrote a letter to him - Credit: Archant
The vice president of one of the world’s most famous aeroplane companies visited Hatfield last week to inspire a nine-year-old boy.
Andrew Newberry sent this design of a plane to Boeing - Credit: Archant
The visit came after Andrew Newberry wrote a letter to aircraft giants Boeing in Seattle, enclosing a hand drawn plane design.
Peter Hoffman, vice president of Intellectual Property Management, replied and made a promise to himself to visit if he was ever in the country.
On Wednesday, he fulfilled his pledge and gave a presentation to 60 youngsters at Howe Dell School, where Andrew is a pupil, as part of National Engineers Week 2014.
Mr Hoffman, who has worked for the American aviation giant for 29 years, said: “We often get letters from children and Andrew’s was so unique in what he was saying and the design [he sent in].
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“I wanted to encourage that [drawing] as it is what made me want to become an engineer.
“And I wanted to inspire him and his friends, too.”
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Mr Hoffman told the Welwyn Hatfield Times he regularly visits schools around America giving talks about engineering and what the company does.
He added: “Drawing, thinking, dreaming and innovation, that is what you need to be an engineer.”
Andrew said he was “gobsmacked” at receiving a letter of reply from Mr Hoffman.
“Really, I was stunned because at first I didn’t really have the idea but then I just thought I would write him a letter,” said the youngster.
He added it was “really good” that Mr Hoffman had come to speak to the class.
