Free repair cements link with community (From Bicester Advertiser)

Free repair cements link with community

7:00pm Tuesday 8th May 2012 in Bicester

Apprentice bricklayers have helped their community by repairing a damaged wall for free.

The three apprentices and their teacher took time out of their course to repair the brickwork at North Leigh War Memorial Hall.

A car backed into the wall and damaged it about a month ago and hall volunteers were quoted almost £1,000 to repair it.

Barry Courtenay-Crane, training director at bricklaying and carpentry college Ace Training, offered to step in and help out.

He said: “We offered to build it for nothing to give our apprentices some work experience and to give back to the community.

“It has been fantastic and I’m pleased for the guys because it gives them a sense of achievement and self esteem.”

Mr Courtenay-Crane, pictured with apprentice Jordan Cannon, 16, from Bicester, said the building trade was going through tough times and the work experience would help his apprentices get a job.

Memorial hall chairman Mike Alexander said: “I can’t think of enough superlatives for what they have done. They did the job quickly and well, and they did it with a smile. I’m over the moon.”

He said the volunteer-run hall had money for the repair work but now the cash could be spent improving the building.