Lightmongers were represented at Mansion House on Monday 14th March where Master Certificates and Livery Company Prizes were awarded to outstanding nominees from 15 Livery Companies including companies from the Construction Livery Group (CLG).

Master Margaret Fitzsimons, Clerk Phill Hyde, Deputy Master Fr Peter Harris and Head of the Education Committee, Dr Stuart Mucklejohn were there to welcome and support this year’s four award winners.

After a meet and greet coffee, Master Margaret Fitzsimons along with the other 14 Masters processed into the grand Egyptian Hall and each Master in turn was called to the lectern to join the Lord Mayor, read the charge and hear the declarations from their award winners.

Congratulations to Lightmonger Bruce Kirk!

This year’s Lightmonger Master Certificate was awarded to Bruce Kirk, Founder of Light Perceptions, a Lighting Consultancy and Project Management company specialising in Historic Buildings (Lightperceptions.co.uk)

Lord Mayor, Alderman Vincent Keaveny, presents this
year’s Master Certificate to Bruce Kirk

Bruce worked and trained in professional theatre lighting from teenage years in the late 1970s.

After studying pure mathematics at university, he became a full-time theatre technician and lighting designer, moving from theatre to exhibition and trade show lighting design before setting up one of the first “systems integration” businesses to work in the exciting crossover market between theatre and architectural lighting in the early 1990s – eventually directing the completion of over £6m worth of lighting installations at the Millennium Dome in 1999.

After the Millennium Dome, Bruce formed Light Perceptions. In the last 20 years much of the practice’s work has focused on ecclesiastical buildings including over 300 completed church projects and some 25 cathedral schemes. Other works are usually in Historic Royal Palaces, listed buildings, stately homes and high-end residential properties.

A warm round of applause for three apprentice certificate winners!

This year, the Education Committee nominated three apprentices to receive their certificate from the Lord Mayor, Alderman Vincent Keaveny:

First up was Lance Corporal James Fleetwood MinstRE, LCGI a military electrician at HM Forces (Army) at the Corps of the Royal Engineers.

 

 

Having trained as an electrical engineer, James was particularly attracted to the role of lighting.  He says it allows for artistic licence, and can transform the appearance of buildings.  It is critical to safety but can give rise to much discomfort if not designed correctly.  LCpl Fleetwood looks forward to the future when he can teach others the benefits of his training and experience.

The second award winner was Lance Corporal Danny Kirkland, Military Electrician for HM forces (ARMY) Corps of the Royal Engineers who completed the class one military electrician course at Brompton Barracks in Chatham.

LCpl Kirkland’s in-depth project encompassed extensive lighting and design calculations to define the technical and ergonomic suitability of a range of lighting products in challenging internal and external locations.  The project and the entire course were completed with excellent results.

The third award winner was Ben Upton, an apprentice at the Nottingham branch of the UK’s largest electrical wholesale company, Edmundson Electrical.

Ben completed his Level 2 Trade Supplier Apprenticeship with a distinction and impressed his manager with his excellent work ethic and high level of customer service – despite the difficulties posed by the Covid pandemic.  His manager, Simon Foottit says that Ben has a very positive attitude and has a bright future ahead of him.

The Lightmongers would like to thank the Lighting Industry Association (LIA) who have offered Ben a place on their Lighting Design Certificate Course that will ensure he continues to develop his lighting design skills.

Once the formal proceedings were completed, there was a light lunch and an opportunity for photographs and networking.  An unforgettable experience for all.

Lightmongers, nominations for next year’s award winners are now open.  If you have a talented apprentice in your business, please contact Chairman of the Education Committee, Stuart Mucklejohn who will provide full details of the certificate scheme.  An award like this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a young person and a huge boost to their career.