The star of TV’s Ground Force, who encouraged millions of householders to take up DIY, met students, staff and employers as he formally opened the state-of-the-art building by unveiling a plaque.
The new bricklaying centre will provide nearly 1,000 square metres of modern workshop space along with well-equipped classrooms and a dedicated area for plastering – allowing the college to increase the number of trowel trade courses it offers.
It replaces a temporary marquee structure used for several years – and where Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg tried his hand at bricklaying on a visit to the college last year.
Tommy chatted to trainee bricklayers before touring the rest of the construction faculty – home to 700 students – and meeting employers of construction apprentices studying at the college.
He also presented prizes to the winners of an internal bricklaying competition to mark the opening of the building.
Adam Harris, 17, and Ryan Beaver, 18, were each presented with trowels for winning their year groups – with Adam also receiving a pair of signed Tommy Walsh braces as overall winner.
John Malone, head of CRC’s construction and engineering faculty, said he was delighted that Tommy Walsh had opened the new construction workshop.
“He is very motivational and inspirational, and was able to talk to the students first hand about the opportunities available to them when they have been trained to the high standards we help them achieve. He told them they would always have a trade no matter where their lives took them,” he said.
“The new building provides outstanding facilities for our students, and means we will be able to offer more courses in bricklaying and plastering. It will also be a great place for professional courses and for adult evening classes – it’s a fantastic new addition to the construction department’s facilities.”
Image: Tommy Walsh with CRC principal Anne Constantine, students and staff at the new construction workshop
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