LETTER: Tribute to Peter Bates
In the early 1970s Peter developed what was called the school/college link courses in co-operation with Chesterfield College.
The courses provided for pupils from Brimington school to attend the college one day per week over two years to undertake construction courses in brickwork, carpentry, joinery, plumbing and painting and decorating. Upon completion of the course many of the pupils were then taken on by the construction industry training board and placed into a permanent three or four-year apprenticeships with a local employer.
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Hide AdThe students then went on to achieve City and Guilds intermediate and advanced qualifications in their chosen craft. They all had successful careers as tradesmen whilst some went on to start their own construction firms and others went into construction management positions.
None of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Peter and he was always so proud of the vast number of young men (and I recall a few young women) whom he had helped in building themselves a worthwhile career.
I worked with Peter for many years in establishing and running the school/college Link courses and found him to be such a kind and caring man … everything he did was to help the youngsters in
building themselves a career and achieving their ambitions in life.
Dr Trevor Burch: Former Head of School of Construction, Chesterfield College.
Dr Trevor Burch,
Former head of the school of construction, Chesterfield College