From small beginnings...
the first year

The idea of putting Design and Technology work from final year secondary schoolchildren in South Shropshire was conceived by Graeme Perks, working as a member of Ludlow and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, and developed with the help of Shropshire's Education Advisor, Paul Clewes.

The Shropshire Education Advisory service was "delighted to support the celebration of the creativity and level of skills which our next generation have achieved" and a host of local businesses and organisations lent their support in cash or kind.

Local Commerce Awards

Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise

Church Stretton & District Chamber of Trade

Bishops Castle & District Chamber of Trade

Cleobury Mortimer Chamber of Commerce

Ludlow & District Chamber of Trade and Commerce

McCartneys, Auctioneers, Valuers and Agents

HSBC Bank, Ludlow and Bishops Castle branches

Barclays Bank, Ludlow

Local Civic Awards

Ludlow Town Council

Bishops Castle Town Council

Church Stretton Parish Council

Craft Guild Awards

The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers, London

The Hereford Guild of Craftsmen

The Real Furniture Group - Bishops Castle and Clun Valley

Marches Woodland Initiative

Ludlow Designer Makers

Shropshire County Council. South Shropshire District Council and Advantage West Midlands also supported the event.

What happened

The four schools were paid basic expenses to cover delivery and collection costs of their pupil's work, and installed them in a 20 foot by 20 foot area of marquee space donated by the organiser of the Craft Fair.

The event was blessed by Rev Brian Curnew, Rector of Ludlow and Lord Windsor, Viscount of the Earl of Plymouth Estates presented the awards on the Saturday morning to 19 children drawn from

• The Community College, Bishops Castle

• Church Stretton School

• Lacon Childe School

• Ludlow Church of England School
  

Each school's Design and Technology teacher selected at least three pupils whose work they felt deserved recognition. This was not a competition, more a celebration, so each entrant was awarded a certificate and had their choice of an appropriate, high-quality hand tool.