A Carpentry & Joinery Lecturer from Shrewsbury College has become a published author after being asked to pen over 60,000 words towards a new textbook for an examining body.

Stuart Raine, who has lectured at Shrewsbury College full time for the past 14 years following a successful career in the industry, said the examining body for the College’s carpentry courses, City & Guilds, got in touch with him in 2012 to talk about new resources.

Shortly after the meeting, he received a phone call asking if he would be willing help them bring out new resources and gave him a brief to write some words.

Stuart agreed and the company liked what they read so in October 2012, Stuart was given a book deal to write the words for the Level 2 Site Carpentry courses in a new course textbook.

In addition, Stuart was asked to write questions for exams on shop fitting due to his extensive background knowledge of the area.

Stuart said: “It’s taken me two years to write the book and it has been hard work but I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve had to be very disciplined and it’s been hard to fit in around my lecturing and commitments.

“City & Guilds have been very supportive of my work and this experience has undoubtedly helped me as a lecturer. The students like to have a reference point and certainly as they go into their second year they like to see pictures and descriptions to help them with their work. I’ve even got a new City & Guilds qualification for writing test questions.

“When I got the published book in my hands it made it all real and I thought it was a real accomplishment.”

Bruce Rolls, Curriculum Leader for Construction Skills & Trades, said: “Stuart is a real credit to the College. His knowledge is exemplary and I know how much hard work he has put into putting his expertise into this book, whilst also delivering outstanding teaching to carpentry students.

“It’s very important that future trades professionals are trained by people who are experts in their fields and who have plenty of vocationally experience. And Stuart is one such lecturer within the Construction team.”  

The City & Guilds Site Carpentry and Bench Joinery text book written by Stuart Raine, Colin Fearn and Tim Taylor with Technical Editor Martin Burdfield is out now.

For more information about Construction courses at Shrewsbury College, please call 01743 34233 or visit the website www.shrewsbury.ac.uk