George Lucas
In June of 1998 I visited Princethorpe with my mother and father who sat patiently while I did the entrance exam. I was greeted by one of the most caring and considerate people I have ever met, his name was Father McManus, along with Berty his dog. I received the good news that I had passed my entrance exam and had a place at Princethorpe starting in Year 8.
I attended Princethorpe from September 1998 through to GCSEs in 2001, during which time I played for the school rugby team and enjoyed many of the school trips to Davos skiing & to Normandy.
The friends I made at school during that time I am still in touch with on a monthly, if not weekly basis. Low and behold they too are self employed now and doing very well for themselves. With the wonders of social networking keeping in touch has been made far easier.
During my final year at school, I went for work experience to the Brandon Hall Hotel, where I was soon snatched up by the Head Chef there (Chris Durden). I was the youngest chef to be employed by the large prestigious hotel chain (Forte Heritage) and during my time there I studied at Stratford Catering College for two years. After this wonderful experience I decide to leave the trade as I was still a young man and the anti-social hours were proving difficult.
I followed in my father’s footsteps for a while into the motor trade, but it was not for me so I looked for a career that I could really get hands on with. I decided to go to Sparsholt College and study Countryside Management for two years during which time I had the opportunity to train to use a chainsaw. This marvellous invention sparked a different way of thinking in my mind and after finishing the course I then moved back up to the Midlands to study at Moreton Morrell in Arboriculture.
Since then I have worked for several large Midlands based companies in arboriculture and decided to make a go of it for myself, setting up Heartwood Tree Services in October 2006. Since I have been self employed I have gained some very prestigious contracts for instance with Northampton Borough Council, Rugby School and Braunston Marina. I have also been approved for apprenticeship schemes with Moreton Morrell and currently have two apprentices about to complete this fledgling course with me. We are always looking to expand and establish links with other bespoke and prestigious organisations whose values are the same as our own.
Over the last year I have also got involved in the charitable work of the Rugby Round Table, this is a wonderful way for me to give something back to the local community.
On the personal front in August last year I proposed to my partner and childhood sweetheart (Kerry Marriott) in front of several thousand people at the fantastic Stanford Hall Fireworks Display. It was a tense moment as I first displayed the ring in its presentation box to the family in front of me, then presented it to her, a moments silence followed which felt like hours, until she smiled with a warm look of love and loyalty followed by the words “Yes I’ll marry you, just sit down before I go red”. The crowds of people around clapped and cheered and saluted their glasses. Success!
We have set the date for the wedding as 21 July 2012, a venue is still to be found. Or maybe it’s been under my nose this whole time.....
As regards to business my aim is to keep at a level where the service will always be unrivalled and the quality of work to match.
Princethorpe has and always will be the foundation for my morals, my opinions and my behaviour among peers and to work. I appreciate everything the College has given me.