Training Report
We didn’t run a WRG Training Weekend in 2014, but the Wilts & Berks ran some digger and dumper training and opened it to WRG. Rachael Banyard reports...
from the Wilts & Berks
applicants, so I could both let them know what times had been allocated to them for their training, and find out whether they For one reason or another, WRG wasn’t able wanted lunch provided so Di Smurthwaite to run a Training Weekend this year. Howcould cater accordingly. At least one opted ever, at a Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Restorafor that choice as he fancied Di’s cakes! tion Committee meeting, several branches Martin, Dave and Hamon all stayed in said that they had members who wanted the cottage for the weekend so that we could training on excavators and dumpers, and I start promptly each day. Martin and I put up was asked if I could arrange it. the WRG tent on the lawn so we could have I firstly went to see my friend Rob my electric Burco running all day so people Pasqualito of Rapid Hire, with whom I have could help themselves to hot drinks. been dealing for many years, to see if he We found that there was more demand could help. We have built up a good rapport for excavator training than for dumpers, and with him, and he has trusted us enough with unfortunately we had to turn down a couple his machines to loan them to me free on of requests, and only allocate single sessions several Christmas camps. He immediately to two more. I decided, based on previous said that he was prepared to loan us two experience at training weekends, that while a small excavators and two dumpers for a week- single session was often adequate for end, free of hire charge. I initially thought that dumper training, it would be an advantage we would have to pay for transport costs, but for excavator trainees to have one session in he also waived this charge. the morning followed by a second in the With that arranged, I realised that we afternoon. could open up the weekend to WRG as well The morning session was largely as Wilts & Berks. Jenny Morris at IWA Head theory, showing them the controls, discussOffice agreed to co-ordinate all the bookings, ing possibilities and problems, health and which was a great help. It was rather short safety, etc. The second session could prove notice, but we did just manage to get menthat they had assimilated what they had tion of the training into the August/Septemlearnt and could put it into practice. This ber Navvies. worked very well, and six passed, and two The next problem to sort out was getwho needed further practice were the ones ting enough instructors to cover continuous for whom we couldn’t fit in a second session. training on both days. George Eycott was There were just two more who after two available on the Saturday, and Dave Wedd sessions still needed further practice. Nine (despite coinciding with a re-arranged BITM passed their dumper tests. dig) agreed to cover both days, with myself. I felt that it was a very successful weekAgain, with relatively short notice, it end, especially considering that we also now was difficult to find other WRG instructors have two new instructors on both excavators who were available, but I had complete and dumpers, and everyone seemed to enjoy confidence that two friends could be trained themselves. My thanks to everybody for as instructors. Martin Thompson had already making it a successful weekend. received some instructor training at a previRachael Banyard ous training weekend, but had not been signed off. Hamon Stewart was keen to be On the subject of training, (a) see our able to instruct, and they both passed the Navvies News pages overleaf for details of a test with no problem. training grant and (b) see future issues of Jenny provided me with contact email Navvies for details of the 2014 WRG Training addresses or telephone numbers for all Weekend and WRG Leader Training Day. ...Ed
Wilts & Berks Training Weekend 28-29 September
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