Olympic ski jumper Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards soars into Newbury's Trinity School

An Olympic hero soared into a Newbury school to deliver the keynote speech at its annual Student Voice Conference.

Ski jumper Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards visited Trinity School on Tuesday morning to talk to the pupils about his life and answer questions from the audience.

The 59-year-old took part in the Winter Olympics in 1988, becoming the first British competitor since 1928.

He finished last but held the British ski jumping record from 1988 until 2001. And it is the resilience and determination to fulfil his dreams that he spoke to the pupils about.

Mr Edwards also showed them the trailer for the 2016 film about his life, which starred Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman, and then answered questions from pupils including about how many competitions he had won – the answer was four – and how he survived all his injuries – he told them it was easier to count which bones he hadn’t broken (there are just three) than which he had.

He said afterwards that it had been “lovely” to get to visit the school and chat to the pupils.

“I really enjoy visiting schools, it’s always nice,” he added. “I didn’t win anything but for me getting to those Olympic Games was enough.

“It is the resilience, tenacity, determination and never giving up that’s more important to me.

“You need these tools in life, whatever you do.”

Assistant headteacher in charge of personal development, Sean Kenneally, who organised the event, said Mr Edwards had been “absolutely fantastic”.

“The resilience he has in abundance and the Olympic values he represents are great,” he added. “All the children who took part have a leadership role in the school.

“This is the fourth year we have run the event and it is growing each year.

“Our leadership programme is great and gets the pupils to develop those key life skills.”

Finnley Dove and Eleanor Hopkins-McQuillan, head students, and Kirsty Hayman and Samantha Bishop, deputy head students also gave a talk at the conference and the students were given the opportunity to taste and comment on the school’s food offering.

Speaking about Mr Edwards the head students said he had been “amazing” and had inspired them all, although maybe not to try ski jumping!

“It was nice to see that he was from a normal background and that he didn’t win but was still enthusiastic about it,” they added.

“He said to follow your dreams, wherever you want to go,” added Miss Hayman. “Don’t let negativity get the better of you.”

Since his retirement from competitive ski jumping Mr Edwards won the first series of the celebrity diving show Splash! in 2013, where he was mentored by Olympian Tom Daley.

He has also appeared on BBC1's Let's Dance for Sport Relief and The Masked Dancer and commentated on Channel 4’s The Jump.