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10 Bolton Independent ISSUE 47PLAYGROUND DESIGNSARE BROUGHT TO LIFEJake Nolan, 10, and Agathe Phiri, 8, along with some of their classmates in front of one of the new structuresPUPILS from St Stephen’s (KearsleyMoor) CE School are celebratingafter a team of students from BoltonCollege brought their playgrounddesigns to life.Last year, the young children designedbench and plant concepts as part of anexciting eco school playground project.Level 3 students from Bolton College’sCarpentry and Joinery Diploma courseconstructed the outdoor structures,which have now been installed at theschool.The project was part of a celebrationWE STOCK A LARGE RANGEOF STOVES, FIRE BASKETSand OPEN FIRESAlso suppliers of ESSE,FRANCO BELGE, BROSELEY,FIREMASTER.of the school’s centenary year, and educatedchildren about the environmentand sustainability, with the structuresmade from ethically-sourced timbers. Itwill also see the creation of a storyteller’schair, made out of 100-year-old oak.The chair will be installed in April,along with a commemorative plaque inremembrance of Norman Mort – a memberof staff at Bolton College and ex-pupilat St Stephen’s School, who sadly passedaway in 2012.Tony Quick, lecturer in timber tradesat Bolton College, said: “This has beenAccessories & spares available: grates,glass, thermometers, moisture meters,paints, ropes and cleanersWE NOW SELL IRISH PEAT BRIQUETTES PACK OF 20 JUST £6.99COME AND SEE THE AMAZINGBRITISH SHOW TRUCKLIVE WORKING DISPLAYS OF BRITISHSTOVES AT FANTASTIC PRICESFRIDAY 1st & SATURDAY 2nd FEBRUARYFROM 11AM - 5PMCOCKERS FARM, LONG LANE,LIMBRICK, CHORLEY PR6 9EETELEPHONE 01257 231880/07596 993939shop online at: www.stovestoreaccessories.co.ukan ongoing project between the schooland the College over the past year, so it’sgreat to finally see the designs come tolife. We hope the pupils enjoy cultivatingtheir new ‘eco corridor’ and we lookforward to visiting again in the nearfuture, when the flowers will be blooming.”He added: “Our students thoroughlyenjoyed having the opportunity to developtheir skills in a practical way and gainhands-on experience, which will hopefullystand them in good stead when they Silver award winner Neil Campbellstart looking for employment at the endof their course.“We hope this will be the first of manymore collaborative, practical projectsthat Bolton College undertakes in partnershipwith schools and organisationsin the community.”St Stephen’s School headteacher,Tony Lasan, said: “The children areabsolutely thrilled to see the final creationsin the playground. We lookforward to a continued relationshipwith the College and the next stage ofthe project, when the storyteller’s chairis installed at Easter.”Bronze award winner Jack WimbushOctagon to get faceliftARTS Council England hasawarded the Octagon TheatreBolton a capital grant of£384,799 that will go towardsfunding an exciting improvementproject for the Theatrewhich will modernise thestage equipment and improvecustomer facilities.The Octagon was awarded thefull amount it applied for, in theface of stiff regional and nationalcompetition.Further funding will berequired to complete the improvementsthat are planned to takeplace later this year. An additional£100,000 will be used fromOctagon reserves and a further£100,000 will need to be raisedby the Octagon through othergrants as well as a series offundraising activities and events.The Octagon Theatreimprovement project has threemain strands. The replacementof the auditorium grid, fromwhich lights, speakers andeffects are rigged above thestage, is the first area that is inneed of an overhaul. The gridCONSTRUCTIONSTUDENTS ONTOP FORMCONSTRUCTION trainees atBolton College were recognisedat the national final of SkillBuild– the UK’s largest multi-tradecompetition.Neil Campbell, 23, and JackWimbush, 21, competed in theroof slating and tiling category,up against the best traineesin the country.Silver was awarded to Neil,who works for Crescent Roofingin Alkrington. Jack, who isemployed by Jackson-Jacksonin Rochdale, took home theBronze.Award-winning trainee, NeilCampbell, said: “The competitionwas extremely tough, sowe’re both really pleased tohave been recognised. We definitelyfeel proud to be winningawards for Bolton College.”and electrics are now over fortyfiveyears old and no longermeets modern standards.To keep costs down they wereinstalled by former studentsworking with Octagon founderRobin Pemberton-Billing, andmuch of the original equipmentwas donated. Original wiring willbe replaced and electrics broughtup to date. To reduce energy consumption,new eco-friendly lightswill be installed in the auditoriumand front of house areas.The front of house area will beThe three day competitionwas staged by CITB-ConstructionSkills,the Sector SkillsCouncil and Industry TrainingBoard for the constructionindustry.Over 100 talented individualsbattled to be crowned thebest in their field, in a range ofskills including Bricklaying,Joinery, Painting and Decoratingand Carpentry.Marie Gilluley, Principal ofBolton College, said: “We’reextremely pleased that Neil andJack’s hard work has beenrecognised. The awards are testamentto the quality of thetrainees that attend Bolton College.It also affirms the highstandard of the teaching staffand the benefits of the outstandingfacilities available.”modernised, including improvementsto the café and bar tocreate a more welcoming environment,with more space andimproved facilities. As part of theplans, the Octagon are alsoimproving the food and drink serviceat the theatre to create abetter dining and socialisingexperience.Work will be undertaken duringthe theatre’s summer closurethis year, between June and September,with no disruption to theOctagon’s normal programming.