After studying motor cycle mechanics at another college, the 21-year-old from Manor Drive, Wembley moved on to bigger things at Willesden – accompanied by CNWL & City Lit specialist Paul who supports him during lessons and explains the technicalities of the course in sign language.
Eighteen months later, Fijian-born Conrad has made such great progress that in March 2010 he won the overall champion’s prize for Paint Refinishing at the College’s annual Industry Day, featuring hundreds of students from many disciplines competing in trade challenges at the Dudden Hill Lane campus.
Now in April, the 14 trade skills champions have been honoured at a presentation awards dinner in a restaurant suite overlooking Wembley Stadium – and Conrad was among them.
With him were his parents Richard and Tina – and Tina made sure he understood and enjoyed the evening by interpreting all the speeches in sign language to her son throughout the ceremony.
Mum Tina learned how to sign 12 years ago – coincidentally at the College of North West London. She felt it was the best way to communicate with her son because he struggles with lip reading owing to a peripheral vision impairment which also prevents him from driving.
Dad Richard does not sign but he has his own ways of communicating with his son. And now Conrad’s teacher Stuart Dingwall has also acquired the rudiments of signing, following a deaf awareness course laid on for ten staff across the Faculty of Technology.
“There are several hearing impaired students in the Faculty of Technology. I communicate a bit in sign language, but Conrad and I have almost developed our own pigeon language, and if I sign something wrong, he lets me know. He’s got a great sense of humour,” said Stuart.
“He’s an absolutely brilliant painter, and he supports the same rugby team as me – Wasps – so I can’t really lose!”
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Conrad got the top marks in his Level 2 group and overall in Paint Refinishing when Level 1, 2 and 3 students competed during Industry Day – also known as Construction and Engineering Open Day – on March 24. He hopes to work in a specialist garage that combines motor bike and car work once he qualifies. He says: “It can be hard sometimes, but I enjoy the course and I love painting.”
The stadium dinner on Wed April 28 was supported by more than two dozen sponsors from industry and education who provided funding or prizes. Guest speakers were Shogo Ando, managing director of air conditioning giant Daikin UK Ltd which has close links with CNWL, and Patrick Gormley, regional partnerships manager of UK Skills.
Other vehicle trade champions were Rawshat Rostam (Mechanics) and Danny Golhar (Body Repair), who works for an accident repair centre.
Two Level 2 apprentices from the nationwide apprentice training group JTL were among the champions. They were Scott Gillespie (Production and Maintenance Engineering) – a 22–year-old from Enfield, who maintains equipment at Barnet Hospital, and top electrician Lewis Gray (Electrical Installation), from South Woodford, who works for Gratte Brothers. Lewis, who is 20, gained non-stop distinctions during his course and achieved a mark of 98 per cent on Industry Day.
Lewis and three other champions will be going forward to regional skills competitions in May. They include Plastering champion Daniel Buckley (SkillBuild), Plumbing champion Kevin Keaney (SkillPlumb) and Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning champion Michael Langley (Skillfridge).
The other six trade champions were: Tom Polo (Welding & Fabrication), Jorgie Spicer-Williams (Painting & Decorating), Radoslaw Zielonka (Carpentry & Joinery), Jack Shanahan (Bricklaying), Dean Nairne (Gas and Heating & Ventilation) and Sebastian Thompson (Electronics).
● Special prizes were presented to two Swedish students – Jens Palm (mechanical engineering) and Kristina Erlandsson (painting & decorating). They were among ten students from Tullangsskolan College near Stockholm who competed on Industry Day, thanks to a partnership set up by British teacher Andrew Crowson who works in Sweden. The best two were invited back to attend the Wembley Stadium event.
PICTURE SHOWS::
Conrad with his parents Tina and Richard.
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