A SENIOR officer in the RAF came to a secondary school in Basingstoke to talk about his experiences.

Air Vice-Marshal Paul Luker, pictured, spoke to Year 11 boys at Brighton Hill Community School to give them an insight into his career.

The Air Vice-Marshal has served as an officer with the RAF in Northern Ireland, Belize, the former Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Since 2006, he has been the chief executive of the Council of Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations (RFCAs) – the central body which represents the interests of the Armed Forces’ reserves and cadets nationally.

Students prepared questions for the Air Vice-Marshal about overcoming challenges, and the attributes needed to be a successful leader.

Jane Halsey, assistant headteacher at the school, in Brighton Way, said: “The aim of the session was for the students to meet, and gain an insight into, someone who has clearly been very successful in his chosen career, and who has experienced a range of challenges and for this to inspire them in their choice of careers.”