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The Master’s Year

Graeme Monteith, the Senior Warden – Ian Mason, the Middle Warden – Anthony Ward, the Renter
Warden – Michael Parrett and the Junior Warden – Sir Vivian Ramsey. They will all be installed at the
Installation Service in October. The Master also presented a splendid “Travelling Badge” to the
Company which would reduce the financial risk to the Company of travelling with the formal Master’s
Jewel and provide a lighter alternative for the Master when out and about.
RECENT WORK BY THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF CONSTRUCTORS CHARITABLE TRUST

Mill Chase is a secondary school (11-16) located in Bordon, a small town in Hampshire. Bordon for
many years has been a base of the British Army which is closing and the town has major plans
revitalising the area with large scale house building. Due to the closing of the army base the area
was becoming very run down and the school was placed in special measures. In November 2013
Chichester University Academy Trust became involved and made the school into an Academy.
The current situation is that there are approximately 16% of the town’s over 16 year olds with only
Level 1 qualifications, 19% with no qualifications at all and only 22% of over 16 year olds have
attained level 4 qualifications. Going forward, the construction industry will be of greater importance
in the town with the proposed creation of over 4,000 new homes being built on the various Ministry
of Defence sites across the town.
The new Mill Chase Academy is now offering a construction course which allows students to achieve
a BTEC Level 2 qualification in Construction and the Built Environment, with some practical
instruction in a Brickwork workshop. This is a key focus for the Charitable Trust.
What does the future hold?
The trustees are in full agreement with the Academy’s Principal, Paul Hemmings, that it is important
that the students have a full appreciation of opportunities in the industry beyond the level 2 skills
that they are presently acquiring, and it is the intention in the future for the Company to provide
guest speakers from our members, explaining the many craft and management careers that are
available in the construction industry, arrange site visits for the students, and links with the higher
construction education facilities. A small working party of members of the Company now seeks to
further this objective and this has the full support of the Master, Wardens, Trustees and The Court.
The Charitable Trust has already provided benches and tools for a carpentry workshop to be added
to the brickwork workshop already installed, and have provided construction materials for the two
workshops and other items for their classrooms. The Charitable Trust has also made provision for
future prizes associated with the Company for worthy students at the Academy’s annual prize day.
The Company has already received a private donation of £5,000 from one of our members to
purchase the work benches and the first set of tools and, with the help of CA David Sheehan and
Sainsburys, construction materials for their workshops have been supplied. Signage outside and
within the school now acknowledges the support of our Company, again financed by a private
donation from a member of the Livery. All of these are greatly appreciated by the Academy.
The trustees hope that, once annual ongoing Livery support has been fully established at Mill Chase,
schools/academies in other areas of the country with similar facilities will also be supported by the
Trust.
A third/fourth workshop for painting & decorating and heating & plumbing skills is now proposed
and further donations via the trust from members and associated companies would be appreciated.
If members would like to get involved with the Academy’s Construction Department or provide
further funds please contact HCA Ken Kent, Chairman of the Charitable Trust.

Autumn 2015 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | 13