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Politics students at Castle Manor Business and Enterprise College met last Friday with the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Madame Fu Ying.

Madame Fu, who was accompanied by her husband, arrived at the school in style in a diplomatic limousine flanked by a Police Motorcycle Outrider.

Waiting to meet her was local MP Richard Spring, who had originally invited the Ambassador, alongside the Town's Mayor Les Ager and Castle Manor’s Headteacher Madeline Vigar. After a brief meet and greet in the school’s reception, the Ambassador was escorted through the school to meet with sixth form politics students. Madame Fu, sitting alongside Richard Spring and the Mayor, faced an enthusiastic array of questions from the students. Subjects ranged from social affairs, UK/Chinese politics and the successful Olympic games held this year in the Ambassador's home country.

The students' questioning of the Ambassador was thoughtful and articulate. Madame Fu appeared visibly impressed by not only the maturity of the students'enquiries but by the level and depth of their interest.

MP Richard Spring said prior to the visit; "I am absolutely delighted that Madame Fu has accepted my invitation to visit Castle Manor Business & Technology School and to meet its inspiring Headteacher, Madeleine Vigar.

"The school is a real success story for Haverhill, where rapidly improving results, particularly in technical subjects, help equip students with valuable skills for the future.

"I know the Chinese Ambassador will find her visit extremely stimulating and that she will be greatly impressed by meeting the sixth form students. It will give her an idea of how our students learn about world affairs and politics."

It seemed abundantly clear that the Ambassador thoroughly enjoyed her visit to Castle Manor and her interaction with the students. Madame Fu said: "Both the UK and China can learn a great deal from each other's cultures. We hope that China's successful running of the Olympic Games showed the country in a new light that will hopefully encourage a new bond and a new unity to be born between east and west."

Following the Ambassador's visit to Castle Manor, she went on to visit Tattersalls in Newmarket - the world-renowned centre for horse racing sales - where she watched a live auction in progress! Following the auction Madame Fu and MP Richard Spring met with Newmarket Racecourse officials for lunch and an afternoon's horseracing.