York College & University Centre apprentice David Walker has won the Institute of Carpenters’ Third Year Robert Rampley Memorial Prize for Craftsmanship.
David, 36, served his apprenticeship with the college and his employers Ryedale Joinery, who were in attendance when IOC president Geoff Rhodes made the presentation on Campus in York.
Along with a winners’ certificate, David also received vouchers with a total value of more than £300 from Reisser UK, Axminster Tools, Ironmongery Direct and MEDITE SMARTPLY, as well as a £100 bursary from the Rampley family.
Helen Shaw and Anthony Rampley were present to congratulate David as sponsors of the prize that is named after their father Robert, who worked as a joiner from leaving school at 13 until he passed away in his 70s.
On his recognition from the IOC, a delighted David said: “It feels fantastic. It was a nice surprise and a lovely way to mark the end of my apprenticeship.
“It’s always nice to have a helping hand with tools, too, because they’re not cheap, so I’ll be spending my vouchers wisely and getting some nice gear.”
The Institute of Carpenters’ annual prizes are open to students from 55 different colleges across the UK and, on David’s success, Geoff added: “The award celebrates excellent craftmanship and it was absolutely clear from David’s entry that the quality of his work is first class and, from the college’s references, that his approach to everything related to wood is exemplary.”
Members of staff and tutors from the college’s Construction Department were also presented with a certificate in recognition of the roles they have played in David’s success.
Course tutor Adrian Salton now believes that David will become a strong mentor of apprentices himself – a duty he often carried out while on campus in college.
“Dave showed great leadership, craftmanship and thought in everything he did,” Adrian pointed out. “He led by example with some of our younger apprentices and took them under his wing, having come to us later in life after deciding this is the job he wants to do for the rest of his working life.
“I think he will go on to make a fantastic mentor for apprentices, as I know he is already doing with our second-year apprentice at Ryedale Joinery.”
Debbie Stronach, of Ryedale Joinery, added her congratulations, saying: “Dave is a really unique and fantastic individual who has shown his commitment and determination from the very beginning of the apprenticeship. His work is of an outstanding standard and, if anybody deserves the award, it’s him.”
Photo shows L-R Adrian Salton , Tutor York College, Anthony Rampley and Helen Shaw in new extended workshop at York College.
