Career-change Scientist returns to the Board of West's Traditional Stonemasons

4th January 2006

Bio-chemist rose from trainee to director at Wells Cathedral Stonemasons

After a three year break, to work on stonemasonry projects in France, Simon Armstrong (38) has rejoined the board of Wells Cathedral Stonemasons – one of the UK’s top firms of traditional craftsmen for restoration and new build projects throughout the UK and overseas.

Having qualified as a bio-chemist, Mr Armstrong made a career-change decision, and took a full-time masonry course in Bath before joining Wells Cathedral Stonemasons in 1994 to complete his craft training. By the time he left for France, eight years later, he had risen to be a director of the Cheddar-based company.

“I took my family on a three year break in France to work on historic restoration projects in Normandy and the Loire Valley. For the past year, we have lived near the citadel city of Chinon, where Richard the Lionheart died and where Joan of Arc proved her powers to the Dauphin of France”, said Mr Armstrong.

“But I missed the wide range of projects at Wells Cathedral Stonemasons, from church restoration to new buildings and exciting overseas contracts”, he explained.

In rejoining the board of Wells Cathedral Stonemasons, Mr Armstrong takes responsibility for a range of contracts throughout the UK and overseas. He will also oversee the company’s Health & Safety operations.

The company’s Managing Director, Peter Arkell, said: “We are committed to preserving the ancient skills of the stonemason, so we offer one of the few remaining apprenticeship schemes for school-leavers. Simon joined us as a determined ‘mature student’, and became a very gifted stonemason.

“He also has a strong grasp of the issues confronting our craft, from the regulatory to the commercial, so we are delighted to welcome his return at a time when we are experiencing the strongest growth in our 25 year history” said Mr Arkell.