The Worshipful Company of Masons

The Duke of Gloucester Awards, which are given every two years, aim to encourage high standards within all aspects of stonemasonry throughout the UK. There were two categories for Awards in 2011:

 

The company is very grateful for the financial support from its two principal sponsors

-  Britannicus Stone and the

-  Ednie Everett Partnership.

 

I addition to the principal sponsors the awards were supported either financially or in kind by the following organisations: 

 

To link to the website of Britannicus Stone click the logo >

 

 

 

 

The first category for qualified masons who have achieved NVQ3 in stonemasonry and have since developed their masonry skills having worked for a period of between three and five years as an improver mason .Categories cover carving, banker masonry, paving and moulding. Assessors judge a current piece of work against that of the entrant’s work at NVQ3. The winner this year is Damien Briggs.

The second category, Project Craftsman of the Year, is an accolade for a stonemason with a minimum of five years’ post-qualification experience and who has shown high standards in all aspects of stonemasonry, a portfolio of projects and a proven record of supervision and management. The winner this year is Tim Crawley.

 

Tim, who is a Director of Fairhaven and Woods obtained his Diploma from the City & Guilds London Arts School in 1982 and has since been awarded his Diploma in Conservation and Restoration. He submitted five restoration projects for consideration: the carving for Henry V11 Chapel, Westminster Abbey, the Lion and Unicorn Sculptures on St George’s Church, Bloomsbury, the pasticcio monument at Sir John Soane Museum, the Atlas Fountain, Kenilworth Castle and the ten modern martyrs statues, Westminster Abbey.

 

A commendation went to Peter Ayling

 

 

 

 

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The Duke of Gloucester Gold Medal Award, organised by Stone Federation Great Britain and The Worshipful Company of Masons, is made every three years, commenced in 2010, to honour those in the natural stone industry or the craft of stonemasonry, who have accomplished outstanding achievement during their lifetime and whose work is of considerable merit.

The Duke of Gloucester Gold Medal Nomination Committee sought candidates who had made a notable difference to the industry or the craft, whether as a mason, architect, designer, trainer, employer, manager.

There are a number of criteria which make an individual eligible for nomination including having achieved national recognition within the craft, enhanced the reputation of the natural stone industry or changed some element of the industry with entrepreneurship, vision or innovation.

The winner of the first Duke of Gloucester Gold Medal was John Bysouth - a worthy Award winner. The Nomination Committee received numerous endorsements in support of his nomination and you can see a write up of his life and work by clicking here.