A woodland memorial seat designed by a Warwickshire student is to take pride of place in the grounds of a country park.

Jan Waterston, 25 and a furniture craft student at Warwickshire College, had his design chosen after a challenge was set to get crafters out of the workshop and into the woods to design a bench for Coombe Abbey Country Park, in Coventry.

The bench will be a memorial to the parents of Keith Sealey, from Lutterworth-based furniture makers, Sealey Furniture.

Jan, from Birmingham, said: “I’m just thrilled that I’m going to have the opportunity to take this design and bring it to life. I’m going to be able to see it in a really special landscape.”

Keith said he wanted to do something to remember his parents and as a furniture maker thought it would be “really nice” to
do something celebrating their work in Coombe Park.

He added: “We were blown away by both the quality and originality of the designs that the students have come up with in quite a short period of time — I’m seriously impressed.”

Sporting success came as no shock for two electrical installation students from Surrey.

Dedicated 17-year-olds Jack Franklin (see front page) and Eddie Temple, both from Guildford College, have excelled in their fields.

Jack, from Guildford, has returned from the European Karate Championships, in Austria, with a bronze medal having competed for England in the 16 to 17-year-old Kumite, or fighting, category.

“It proved that all the training was worth it and helped to repay everyone who has helped me,” said Jack.

He trains up to four times a week as a member of Guildford Wado Kai Karate Club, a member of the England Wado Kai Karate Federation.

Meanwhile Eddie (pictured above), from Woking, has become the youngest member of the Streatham Redskins ice hockey team, which he joined from Slough ENL Jets.

He scored 22 goals in just 14 games for Slough in his age group last season.

“Being only 17 gives me plenty of time to move up the lines and I feel this is the right move for my development,” said Eddie.

“I am very pleased to be a part of the team and I can’t wait for the season to start.”

A world leader in interactive entertainment and fiction inspired budding tycoons at a Midland college.

Ian Livingstone, co-founder of Games Workshop and co-author of the multi-million-selling Fighting Fantasy gamebook series, shared his tips for success with members of West Nottinghamshire College’s Vision Entrepreneur programme.

The programme was set up to coach would-be business people from the college, local schools and the community through monthly sessions, which include inspirational speakers and tips from industry experts.

The session saw Mr Livingstone – who was made a CBE in the latest New Year Honours List – talk about his role as adviser to the government and the British Council, as well as his position as executive chairman of Eidos, the company behind Tomb Raider.

College principal Asha Khemka OBE said: “To have one of the founding fathers of the UK games industry visit the college and speak about his business endeavours was a real honour.

“Ian’s rise to success is down to a recipe of hard work, determination and a passion for the industry and our audience was truly inspired by his story, which included encouraging them to nurture their own business ideas and concepts.”

A Holocaust survivor visited students in Kent to share childhood memories of being a Jew living under Nazi rule.

Zigi Shipper, 83, who grew up in Lodz, Poland, spoke at MidKent College’s Medway Campus, in Gillingham, as part of events to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

Mr Shipper, from Hertfordshire, was just a boy when the Nazis invaded his home country in 1939, sparking the beginning of the Second World War.

But unlike many fellow Jews, he survived concentration camps like Auschwitz and Stutthof and lived to tell the tale.

“I like talking to young people because they need to know what can be caused by racism, hatred and prejudice,” said Mr Shipper.

“How can I forget what happened? I lost my family for no reason at all. It took a long time to talk about what happened.”

Of the three million Jewish Poles alive before the war, only 300,000 survived the Holocaust.

Mr Shipper said he hoped his educational tours inspired young people to be more tolerant and accepting of others.

He added: “My message is simple – whatever you do, do not hate. And whatever you do, do not give up.”

Fifteen catering students from Cheshire are learning all about Spanish culinary delights as they get insider knowledge of the hotel trade.

Hospitality and catering students from Warrington Collegiate are in Granada for a three-week work placement to work front of house, on food preparation and patisseries and confectionery, among other duties.

David Chapman, chef lecturer at Warrington, said: “Spain is one of the most widely visited countries within the EU.

“This will give students a taste of what it would be like to live and work in Spain, which may impact on the choices they make about their future.

“They will gain knowledge of Spanish culture and cuisine while developing additional skills which will contribute to their course and qualification.”

Hospitality and catering student Shannon Benson, 18 and from Warrington, said: “I’m thrilled I’ve been given the opportunity
to participate in this venture. I hope this
will lead to many exciting prospects in the near future.”

To prepare, students have undergone six weeks’ intensive training in Spanish cuisine, culture and language. They are due back in a fortnight.

There was animal magic in the air when students learned about the life-changing difference guide dogs can make for blind people.

A session on understanding guide dogs and the needs of the visually-impaired took place at Basingstoke College of Technology.

Level three animal management students heard from Brian Martin, and his guide dog, Gus, came along too with Ellen Young from the Guide Dogs Association. She brought Enzo — a dog currently in training.

Brian explained how a dog is trained and spoke about his own experience of becoming blind, and how Gus had given him his life back.

“I simply cannot tell you what Gus gives to me in terms of quality of life,” said Brian.

“I would never be able to do the things I do without him. He makes everyday things possible like going to the supermarket. To me, he is priceless and to be able to trust him as I do is a gift I never take for granted.”

Matthew Simonds, lecturer in animal care, said: “It was great for students to learn more about guide dogs, their training, and the financial considerations.”

A world-famous graffiti artist has left his mark on a college in Lancashire.

Aroe, a member of LA’s prestigious MSK graffiti crew and Europe’s finest HA (Heavy Artillery) Crew, has used Accrington & Rossendale College as his latest canvas to inspire “passion” in students.

Hundreds of staff, students and members of the public visited to watch Aroe at work as he created a masterpiece over two days.

“We believe in being innovative in order to create a passion in our students” said director of Business at the college Tamsin Deasey.

“What better way to do that than give them a once in a lifetime experience like this? Aroe also answered students’ questions and therefore it is a real life workshop that they can enjoy for years to come.”

The large scale artwork needed scaffolding erected to complete.

Aroe’s work is shown across the globe from New York to Milan and Dubai to Hollywood. He has worked with clients ranging from Disney to Playstation and was recently featured in Rolling Stone magazine.

Game was on the menu as Midland students learned the tricks of the butchery trade.

Stratford-upon-Avon College’s advanced culinary diploma students took part in a game master class run by Lee Maycock, from the Countryside Alliance’s game-to-eat initiative.

The one-day workshop, held in the college’s kitchens, aimed to give students an insight in how to prepare and cook a wide range of game, from woodcock to venison.

Mr Maycock said: “The game marketplace in the UK is worth £84m and is growing 15 per cent year on-year as people experiment with different types of food.

“Being invited into the college is great as we get the chance to work with the next generation of chefs, making sure they understand how to properly prepare and cook game.”

Student Matt Byrd said: “Hearing about game from an expert makes it much more real because Lee deals with it every day.

“The most interesting part of the workshop is that it has changed my perspective on this area of food. I now really understand how much work it takes to keep and rear game, and I am much more confident.”

You’ve heard of white van man, but now a Somerset College is rolling out green van man to help deliver eco technology courses.

The new Green Skills Academy has seen Norton Radstock College team up with City of Bath College with the support of Bath and North East Somerset Council.

It will provide training on emerging renewable and sustainable technologies, particularly targeting unemployed young people and small to medium enterprises in the Bath and North East Somerset area.

And Norton Radstock College has taken delivery of a specially-branded van that will help get the message across.

Ray Nicholson, senior curriculum leader of engineering, motor vehicle and construction at Norton Radstock College, said: “The van will be equipped so we can teach renewable energies and take it out on the road and show companies how they can progress in reducing their carbon footprint.”

Lecturer and programme coordinator for construction Mark Andrews added: “We want to deliver bespoke courses and this gives us another option for going out to the workplace to promote or deliver small courses.”

The van will be equipped with examples of solar panels, generators and wind power.