Rugby's proud history of first-rate bricklaying carried on with college student's victory in prestigious competition

Declan has done the town proud
Photo submitted by Rugby College.Photo submitted by Rugby College.
Photo submitted by Rugby College.

A Rugby College student did the town proud, and carried on our history of first-rate bricklaying, when he won a prestigious bricklayer’s competition.

From Rugby School, to the old railway station and the scores of intricate Victorian buildings in our town centre – Rugby has quite the reputation for knowing its way around a few bricks.

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And 22-year-old Declan Hobley, who studies bricklaying at Rugby College, carried on the town’s reputation when he won the senior prize at the Guild of Bricklayers competition.

The competition was held at Rugby College, which is part of WCG. The Guild of Bricklayers is an association first founded in 1932, with the dual aims of promoting and maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship in brickwork.

Each year, the Guild, through its network of sections, organises regional brickwork competitions at senior, junior and schools levels. A National Final then takes place, bringing together the winners of the senior competitions from each of the regional events.

Declan, who studies in Rugby but lives in Bretford, said: “It feels fantastic to have beaten off the competition of my fellow talented entrees and to have won the senior edition of the competition.

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“I’m looking forward to pitting my wits against my fellow regional winners when the national competition comes around in June.”

Declan is in the final year of his apprenticeship in Brickwork, and currently works with his farther at their company D.J Hobley & Sons.

A leading college group is enjoying a double celebration after two of its students won the regional junior and senior editions of a prestigious bricklayer’s competition.

College group WCG students Declan Hobley, from Bretford, won the senior prize, while Owen Shaw, from Solihull, came away as the victorious junior in the Guild of Bricklayers competition.

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The competition was held at Rugby College, which is part of WCG. The Guild of Bricklayers is an association first founded in 1932, with the dual aims of promoting and maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship in brickwork.

Each year, the Guild, through its network of sections, organises regional brickwork competitions at senior, junior and schools levels. A National Final then takes place, bringing together the winners of the senior competitions from each of the regional events.

Declan, age 22, who studies at Rugby College, won the prize in the senior category, with Nick Cox of the National House Building Council (NHBC) training centre coming second.

The skilled young bricklayer will now go through to the national finals on Wednesday, June 22 at South Staffordshire College.

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Another student from Rugby College also had success in the competition, with Josh Townsend claiming third in the junior section.

Will Dewes, Brickwork Lecturer at WCG, said: “All the competitors did fantastically well and showcased a very high standard of work.

“For all of my students that entered, it has added an extra string to their bow and helped them highlight their skills to potential customers and employers.”

To find out more about brickwork courses and apprenticeships at WCG, visit www.wcg.ac.uk/study

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