A HIGH-FLYING apprentice at a Kidlington firm is celebrating after winning a major award.

Gordon Coombes saw off competition from 170 rivals across the county to claim the ‘best fourth year apprentice’ honour from the Oxford & District Engineering Trust.

Mr Coombes, 23, who works for helicopter firm Eurocopter, at Oxford Airport, said: “It was great to be recognised – ever since I left school I have wanted a job in aerospace.”

After finishing his apprenticeship in August, Mr Coombes will start work at Eurocopter working on the firm’s extensive fleet of civil helicopters as well as the ongoing project to renovate the RAF’s Puma fleet, based at RAF Benson, near Wallingford.

Eurocopter takes on four apprentices every other year.

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