Having shied away for years (always said we could never employ anyone under the age of 25 - shhh - don't tell the age police) , it's clear that, risk or no risk, unless plain metal bashers like us give experience to young people, the powers that be certainly won't. Who now learns to weld ? In the 20 years, we've been going, the local college had 3 year groups, then one, then none. Not saying we're on a mission, just that we can only blame ourselves if, worried about H & S, we no longer have employees - or a business.

Anyhow, we had three lads in for a week - Mig, Arc and Tig welding (sort of - but they had something to take home which looked respectable), polishing and, under the guidance of Workshop Masters Kevin and Tony, trying their hand at pattern-development (making square-to-rounds) and the arcane art of folding metal worktops so that you don't get to the last fold and discover it can't be done.

Thanks to the lads - and bigger thanks to the chaps in the workshop - Kevin especially - for the insights.