Pre-Test Practice Day  September 15  2023

by Chris Bolshaw

It has always been part of our mission to pass on the necessary skills to repair and build dry stone walls. The branch now has a very competent core of capable wallers who can take on most walling challenges. As they all started as novices on one of our two-day training courses it is gratifying that several of them are now capable of tackling DSWA tests at Level 1 and Level 2.

A branch member who has qualified at Level 2 is a potential instructor and so long as people continue to age we are going to need instructors in the future. Let me say at this point that it is entirely up to members themselves whether they choose to take tests or not. You are no less a member if you choose not to.

These tests are not easy and explore technical competence as well as being quite physically demanding. Over recent years it has been difficult to place our people on tests due to shortage of places, examiners and test sites. Last Friday that situation changed for us.

Thanks to our president Carl Watson, we now have a local test site. Two walls have been built on his land in Dobcross which are suitable for testing at Levels 1 & 2.

Illustration 1: Test Walls at Carl's

Illustration 1: Test Walls at Carl’s

Last Friday (15th September) five branch members spent the day doing a mock test ahead of the real test day on September 30th. Carl was on hand to guide them through some of the finer points and indicate those areas which they should pay special attention to on the real test day. At the end of the day the wall was back up and Carl thought all of them would have passed. The exercise will be repeated on September 22nd. Of course we wish them all well for the real test itself – practice makes perfect.

Carl is intending to develop the site so that it will be possible to complete tests there at Level 3 involving retaining walls and curves. The site is going to be an excellent asset for the branch and we owe Carl a huge vote of thanks for making it possible.

Illustration 2: After stripping out building commences on the first lift.

Illustration 2: After stripping out building commences on the first lift.

Illustration 3: Lee, Mike, Bev,Hubert and Andras getting feedback from Carl.

Illustration 3: Lee, Mike, Bev,Hubert and Andras getting feedback from Carl.

Illustration 4: ALL WOULD HAVE PASSED

Illustration 4: ALL WOULD HAVE PASSED

Illustration 5: ALL BACK IN PLACE

Illustration 5: ALL BACK IN PLACE