WESTON COLLEGE GUILD OF BRICKLAYERS REGIONAL COMPETITION AND INTERACTIVE OPEN DAY

Some very important visitors came to the Guild of Bricklayers Western Region competition at Weston College on Friday (May 25th).

The A.T Winstone Shield was a prize named after Albert Thomas and three of his granddaughters among among the 400 visitors to the award-winning Construction and Engineering Centre of Excellence (CECE) in Locking Road.

Weston College brickwork lecturer and regional Guild of Bricklayers Chairman Matt Postins said: "It was moving to meet A.T Winstone's granddaughters, Margaret, Jenny and Sue, who had travelled from Cornwall, Colchester and Bristol.

Granddaughter, Margaret Cevik, 75, of Yate, said: "Our grandfather left school at 11 and was a self-made man who became a lecturer in Bristol.

"He was one of the founders of the Guild and he would have been thrilled to see what Weston has to offer its students. We had a wonderful day and all got a bit tearful."

The Guild of Bricklayers was established in 1932 with Albert as one of its founders.  Its current President, Andrew Cainen, a qualified architect and member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) was there to watch the competition.

Six thousand bricks were used by 46 bricklayers from colleges all over the South West. It also included an interactive trade fair so visitors could try their hand at various trades and tools.

Weston College winners included: Dan Selwyn, 19, of Darmead, Weston who took third place in the Senior competition.

Third place in the Junior Pairs competition went to Justin Bartlett, 21, of Station Road, Flax Bourton along with Louis Rouvrais, 20, of Claverham.

Weston College's Schools Links programme Year 10 and 11 Worle School pupils, John Allsup, 14, and Dan Styles, 16, who want to follow vocational professions also joined in to show off their skills.

The two-year programme involves them attending Weston College half-a-day each week studying for a BTEC Level 1 qualification.

More than £1,000 was raised at the open day which will go towards the College's educational visits and charity.

Weston College Principal, Dr Paul Phillips, OBE, said: "Our staff and students should be congratulated on the effort they put in to ensure its great success."

In 2010, the CECE won a 'National Training Award' for the South West of England.

It delivers training in a wide range of construction occupations which includes electrical installation, carpentry, trowel trades, painting and decorating, plastering, property maintenance, as well as a range of renewable energy courses and apprenticeships.  From September 2012 it will also offer plumbing.

There are specialist workshops for training electricians and bespoke brickwork and carpentry workshops, as well as a resource-based Learning Centre and computer suites to deliver online learning.

The CECE is also a test centre for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and health and safety card.

There is a 100 per cent success rate for Level 2 qualifications with around 70 per cent of CECE students finding work in industry while others use the skills they have developed to enhance their DIY capability.

For more information on practical courses at Weston College call 01934 411 481 or go to www.weston.ac.uk