A driven Plantsbrook School motorsport marshal who volunteers at some of the UK’s biggest racing events is in pole position – after winning a national award.
Charlotte Edwards, 11, is a keen member of the Motorsport Marshals Club’s cadets, and can regularly be found in the paddock at racing venues like Donington Park and Oulton Park, as well as assisting at events at the Curborough Sprint Course, near Lichfield.
Now Plantsbrook School motorsport marshal Charlotte, who is in Year 8 at the Upper Holland Road School, has been named the UK’s Cadet Marshal of the Year – winning the coveted David Leslie Award, named after the leading racing driver who died in 2008.
“It was really exciting to win the award,” Charlotte said, “The award is actually one of David Leslie’s own crash helmets, which you have to give back at the end of the year, but I also have a glass trophy which I get to keep.
“I also got badges, which my mum has sewn onto the overalls I wear on race days.”
Generations of Charlotte’s family have been involved in motorsport marshalling, and her dad, Jeremy, used to be a sprint driver.
As a marshal in the paddock and assembly areas before events, Charlotte helps to check that the cars are ready and ensures that they know where their correct grid position is.
The marshals also play an important role in race safety, and Charlotte has even had training in firefighting.
“I did a fire training day at Donington where I actually had to put out a fire myself, and I was quite nervous, but then I had to do another one at a place called Prescott Hill Climb – and I just went in and did it!” Charlotte said.
Plantsbrook headteacher Jason Farr said: “Charlotte’s involvement in motorsport marshalling is doing her the world of good – she is so passionate about it and clearly very much enjoys her involvement in what is a part of her family life.
“It’s a very mature job, and as a result she has developed a level of personal responsibility which is great to see. Those skills transfer into the way that she applies herself to school life too.
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“Winning this award is richly deserved and we are very proud to have her at Plantsbrook.”
– headteacher jason farr