Several Forth Valley College students were presented with awards from the Stirling Incorporation of Hammermen recently.
Several officials and post holders from the Hammermen – including Stuart Campbell (Deacon), Andy McEwan (Deacon) and John Mungall (Boxmaster) -were in attendance at the event to present the prizes on Wednesday 18 June in the Kildean Suite at the FVC Stirling Campus.
Traditionally the Hammermen Craft was the trade guild which regulated all who wielded the hammer. These included gold, silver and blacksmiths as well as clock makers, addlers, lorimers, baxters, and pewterers. Their motto was ‘By hammer in hand, all arts do stand.’ Awards were presented this year to apprentice joiners, masons, engineers and a student baker.
Forth Valley College Principal Kenny MacInnes was also present on the day to give the vote of thanks at the end, as were colleagues Mhairi Hay Head of Curriculum for the Department of STEM and Construction, Karyn King, FVC’s Operations Manager for the Department of Creative, Digital and Leisure Industries, Graeme Williamson Curriculum Manager in the Department of STEM and Construction, Ronnie Millar, Joinery Lecturer, Chef Lecturer Martin Rodgers and Callum Plews senior lecturer with Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
Award sponsors were Hammermen, Howdens, OCS and Philips Industrial.
Winners on the day were:
Jack Binnie BEST FIRST YEAR HAMMERMEN
Greig Bulloch BEST SECOND YEAR HAMMERMEN
Ciaran Bisland BEST ADVANCED HAMMERMEN
Jack McColl BEST STUDENT HOWDENS
Jack Binnie BEST STUDENT HOWDENS
Ben Kettrick BEST STUDENT HOWDENS
Ryan Gill BEST STUDENT HOWDENS
Aaron Rice BEST STUDENT PHILIPS INDUSTRIAL
Lee Bryant BEST STUDENT PHILIPS INDUSTRIAL
Greig Bulloch BEST STUDENT PHILIPS INDUSTRIAL
Brian Bremner BEST STUDENT PHILIPS INDUSTRIAL
Ciaran Bisland BEST STUDENT OCS
Alex Blyth BEST STUDENT OCS
Gabriel Simpson BEST STUDENT (1st Year) HES
Keith Parker BEST STUDENT (2nd Year) HES
Cody Burns ASSESSORS AWARD HES
Charlotte Comrie Baxters Awards Level 6 Bakery and Patisserie Course
Andrew McEwan Deacon from the Stirling Incorporation of Hammermen, said: “The Incorporation of Hammermen of Stirling are delighted to support the awards to craft apprentices, this maintains centuries of tradition in the support of apprentices.”
Caroline Hogg, FVC’s Head of Apprenticeships, said: "At Forth Valley College, we are immensely proud of our apprentices for winning the Hammermen Awards. This remarkable achievement is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the exceptional guidance provided by our brilliant lecturers. Their success highlights the high standard of education and training at our institution, and we look forward to supporting more students as they reach for similar heights. Thanks go to the Stirling Incoporation of Hammermen for all their support for these awards."
Karyn King, FVC’s Operations Manager for the Department of Creative, Digital and Leisure Industries, said: “Well done to Charlotte on winning the Baxter Award this year. She has been one of the most consistently impressive students throughout the year and thoroughly deserves this recognition. Well done to her.”
For more information on Modern Apprenticeships at FVC visit https://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/apprenticeships/
