Weymouth College Stonemasonry
Centre of Vocational Excellence

2008 Competition Winners

Stonemasonry students at Weymouth College were on fine form for the Boss stone carving competition held on Friday 16 May.  Now in its 13th year, the annual contest, staged by the college's Masonry Department, showcases the talent of the students who have just two and a half days to complete a stone boss carving – a decorative carved architectural stone work – using only hand tools. 

The participants are all studying to achieve either a Foundation Degree in Applied Architectural Stonework and Conservation or an ICA/ACA on Stonemasonry.
The theme for this year’s Boss carvings were Fur or Feather and the students produced some imaginative pieces of work which are now proudly displayed in the College’s Masonry department. Guest judge Richard Mitchell from Chichester Cathedral on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Masons in London scrutinised all of the work before deciding on the winners with the other guest judges who were Andrew Whittle, a former student and self employed letter cutter and Rob Warlock from Hanson Stone.  Mr Mitchell said: “ I am very impressed by the high standard of craftsmanship we have seen here today and it’s exciting to see so much new talent and creativity on display here at the College.  I started my career in the industry myself over 40 years ago as a masonry apprentice at South Dorset Technical College as it was known then so it’s great to be back and   I still love the industry although mostly my work is now desk based.”

The winners were:

Overall winner:
James Thrower  final year student ICA Stonemasonry


First year winner: Ben Russell Foundation Degree in Applied Architectural Stonemasonry & Conservation
Second year winner:  Jonathan Randall ICA Stonemasonry
 

John Firth, Programme manager for the Masonry Department at Weymouth College said:  "The work the students produce is outstanding. We are very pleased with this event which shows the high level of skills of the Masonry students at the College.  They do exceptionally well.  I know the judges say it every year but it really was a very difficult job to choose the winners. The standard was superb and although we chose 3  very deserving winners there were quite a lot of other entries that were only half a point behind.  We are grateful to Hanson who kindly donated the stone for the competition,  to G.Gibson, Minerva Stone Conservation and St Blaise Ltd for  sponsoring the prizes and we would also like to thank everyone who has supported the event this year.”  

Weymouth College has long been the southwest’s trainer of skilled stonemasons, letter cutters and carvers and has been recognised as a Centre of Vocational Excellence for Stonemasonry by the Learning and Skills Council.  

The department now provides alongside its established stonemasonry training a unique and groundbreaking Foundation Degree in Applied Architectural Stonework and Conservation. Students are taught a wide range of skills and professional practices for working on historic buildings and artefacts, which they put to good use working on some of the most important buildings in the country such as St Pauls Cathedral, Salisbury cathedral, Kingston Lacy, Hardy’s Cottage and others too numerous to mention.  

For more information about Stonemasonry courses at Weymouth College call 01305 761100.