Apprentice mason of the year.

• 
• 14th December 2007
• Quarrying
 

On leaving school in 2005 Ollie Clack got himself a full-time job washing dishes in a restaurant. But, to use his own words, "After a year doing that I decided it was time to do something with myself."

So Ollie, now 19, responded to a trade press advertisement for an apprentice stone mason with Chichester based CWO Limited. It was a decision that has borne fruit because he has just been named "Trainee Mason of the Year 2007" in the Stone Federation Great Britain's annual competition.

He collected his award from former England and Manchester City footballer Mike Summerbee at the federation's annual general meeting in Prestbury, Cheshire. Summerbee made eight appearances for England and 357 for Manchester City in a career that included spells with other Football League clubs.

He told the meeting that it was important to encourage young people to enter a profession, whether it was stonemasonry or football, and proper training was the lifeblood of any successful career.

Originally from Portsmouth, Ollie joined CWO in July last year when he moved to nearby West Wittering and he began his apprenticeship in September, attending training courses at Weymouth College.

"Before I joined the company it's true to say that I wasn't really aware of the industry, but now I take great notice of all the beautiful stonework I see around me. I have got involved in a trade which has given me everything I was looking for," he said. "I have always been a very artistic person and stone masonry has taught me respect for the time, effort and perseverance needed to build all stone structures.

"Work must be correct first time. I feel this has made me a tidier person all round. In future I aspire to be a master carver. Seeing the carvings produced in our workshop makes me want to push the boundaries of masonry and explore new things.

"My favourite part of the industry is carving and I think it is very important to preserve all historic buildings and maintain English heritage. Producing work that will be in place for years to come is a pleasure."

Adam Stone, CWO's Technical Director commented: "Ollie is a very capable individual, quickly mastering any task we put in front of him with enthusiasm."

Weymouth College lecturer Richard Mortimer also praised Ollie saying: "He is a pleasure to teach and he has achieved a very high standard of work in his first year at college."

Ollie has also won a bronze award in the Skillbuild competition and when he first received his company's congratulations he thought it was for that. "It wasn't until two hours later that I realised that I had won the Trainee Mason of the Year Award," he confessed.

Website: http://www.stone-federationgb.org.uk/