The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – William and Kate visit Sunderland

William and Kate met Richard Avenue Primary Schools, Gabriel Coates and found out about his winning entry in the ‘Little Inventors’ workshop , during their visit to the new Arts and Cultural Centre, located in the newly regenerated Old Fire Station, Sunderland.


Gabriel designed a ‘Roller Lamp’ as part of a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) project. This was an ingenious remote control lamp on a motorised skateboard which could be directed to move around a room in a house, at the will of the person controlling it.
Kensington Palace asked to meet the three winners of the ‘Little Inventors’ competition, whilst on their visit to Sunderland. The visit was to celebrate culture, art and regeneration in Sunderland, with a strong emphasis on young people having a voice and a role in the future of Sunderland. Naturally, Gabriel gave a good account of himself and his invention to Kate and William.
