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Young Mount Stewart Apprentice Recognised for Excellence

July 2014 - The Ards Advertiser

A local joiner from Ballyhalbert has been recognised for his excellence and dedication at the Apprentice of the Year Awards 2014.

Callum McCaffrey is an apprentice working on the National Trust’s £7m Mount Stewart Restoration Project. Callum has taken this unique opportunity to learn a huge range of heritage joinery skills, some of which are incredibly specialised.

The restoration project at Mount Stewart will see the world famous house restored to its former 1920s glory. It is due to be completed in Spring 2014.

Speaking about his role at the National Trust, Callum said; ‘I think it’s very exciting. I want people walking past the banister and spindles in the Great Hall one day to wonder about the craftsman who put love and care into their work. The original ones had been replaced by metalwork and I was given the responsibility to make a prototype for the new ones, based on what I was told by Lady Rose, a member of the family who grew up in the house, and knew what the original ones looked like.

It took several attempts before it was just right, and a further 100 were produced. The result is a re-creation of how that part of the house would have looked in the early 1900s.
‘If I get to very old age I know I’ll be able to come to Mount Stewart, look at my work and proudly say ‘I did that’.’

Pictured L-R: Raymond Palmer, SERC, Trevor Rosbotham, project joiner, Mark McCaffrey, Callum McCaffrey,  senior apprentice joiner, David McClimond, senior project joiner, Joe Heaney, building surveyor.

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