West Suffolk College's Brian Tunbridge has been awarded the Master Certificate in Joinery.
Our very own Carpentry and Joinery Lecturer Brian Tunbridge has been awarded the Master Certificate in Joinery – the highest possible award available in the trade.
Brian Tunbridge, who has been teaching at the college for 18 years, was invited to an official ceremony in London on Monday where he was presented with the Master Certificate by the Lord Mayor of London.
The Master Certificate scheme for Carpentry and Joinery recognises excellence in the art, craft, science and practice of carpentry and joinery and is sponsored by The Institute of Carpenters, The City and Guilds of London Institute, The Worshipful Company of Carpenters and The Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers.
Currently, there are only 16 people nationwide who hold the Master Certificate in Joinery and now the college’s access into this scheme will allow our staff and students to become some of the best qualified joiners in the country.
Brian said: “It was a huge honour to represent the college and a privilege to have been awarded the prestigious Master Certificate after 18 years of hard work. This is certainly the pinnacle of my career and I have every intention of putting forward fellow staff members and students who may be eligible to apply for the preceding levels of the Master Certificate Scheme in the coming years
Debbie Coomes said: “We all would like to congratulate Brian both on a personal and professional level. Brian has worked so hard to secure this prestigious award and it this is testament to his craftsmanship, persistence and tenacity. This will now put us at the centre of the Carpentry and Joinery world - Brian really has succeeded in doing something truly remarkable and should feel very proud.”
As a direct results of our involvement with the Master Certificate Scheme, we have also been granted college status membership of The Institute of Carpenters. This membership will entitle students who pass a test piece to become a student member of The Institute of Carpenters – an increasingly prestigiously recognised qualification.