Gary Tuddenham

Competition	Cabinet Making
Age	22
Qualifications	Progression Award Levels 2 & 3 Fine Furniture Making
Hometown	Longtown, North Cumbria
Training Provider	Carlisle College Kendal College The Edward Barnsley Workshop
Training Manager	Peter Legg

 

"My dad was my inspiration because he taught me everything about joinery when I was a boy. He taught me about finesse and how it is achieved, a quality that is very important in a trade like ours."

 

Profile

 

Gary's decision to pursue a career in furniture making was largely due to his father who has been a joiner for over 20 years. Gary was an enthusiastic 10 year old when he first went into his father's workshop to help out on Saturday mornings.

Gary became involved in SkillBUILD competitions through his college lecturer who encouraged him to take part in the regional competitions.

Along with working to an intensive training programme with his training manager, Gary will be honing his skills at the SkillBUILD national cabinet making competition in Birmingham before flying out to Japan:

"Competing in Japan will be an amazing experience; I can't wait to meet new people and sample the culture out there. I'm not nervous at all about competing and I hope to achieve good work and get good results."

When he is not working Gary enjoys shooting as a hobby.

Employer

 

The Edward Barnsley Workshop, in Froxfield, near Petersfield, Hampshire, has been producing handmade bespoke furniture to commission since 1923.

Competition Requirements

 

Gary will use supplied drawings to manufacture and assemble a variety of timber products and all the necessary fixtures and fittings using both hand and machine tools.