Matthew wins national joinery competition

Level 2 joinery student, Matthew Speake (aged 26), has won third place in the Institute of Carpenters Craft Competition 2009; an annual competition, open to all joinery students in colleges up and down the country.

Matthew made a sign for a public house, which was judged both regionally and then nationally. He will pick up his award at a ceremony for the Institute of Carpenters at
The Guildhall in London, in November.

Matthew first came to York College in 1999, studying for a National Diploma in Craft Design, progressing to the Higher National Diploma course. Whilst at college he was also a keen orienteer, competing nationally. For the last five years he has lived in Sweden, orienteering for a Swedish club.

Matthew says: “I came back to the UK because I want to get some qualifications in joinery so I can gain employment. I am still orienteering for the national team, which means that I am very busy and I have to find time to keep up with my work. I may go to Scandanavia to find work when I finish my course.”

Alex Barnes, joinery tutor at York College says: “Matthew deserves his success. He has a very busy life and he manages to keep on top of his coursework even though he spends a lot of time orienteering. Matthew also has dyslexia and he receives learning support for this at the college. He is very hardworking, putting in lots of time and effort. He is a credit to himself.”

Press Release: 28/09/09