Fergus Stuart
Design and Project Consultant
Joined Carpenter Oak: 2008
Interview with Fergus
What is the best project you have worked on and why?
Med Quoy truck frame in Orkney. Great frame, great location and the best jolly ever. Plover Hall reciprocal roof for the challenge
When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
Saturday adventures on the hills and glens of Angus
If stranded on a desert island, which three people would you take and why?
Nate Herreshoff to build a boat and teach me how, Bob Dylan to play the tunes, Donald Trump to do the rest of you a favour (you’re welcome)
What is the most embarrassing job you have ever had?
Agency work scrubbing pots in a university canteen a few weeks after I’d jacked in my course – an existential crisis.
What music do you listen to?
6Music of an evening and on Sundays floats my boat.
What do you enjoy most about working with wood/oak?
The most sustainable material on earth and it happens to be beautiful too.
Where is your favourite place in the world?
The bothy on the wilds of Knoydart will take some beating.
Biography
Edinburgh raised, I took the conventional route to uni straight after school which didn’t work out. So I spent the next couple of years staying up a bit too late and generally faffing about before coming across timber framing through Grand Designs. It turned out there was a cool company just up the road, making the best frames in Scotland. I wrote them a letter, they took a punt on me and I’ve been here ever since. Seven thoroughly enjoyable years spent on the tools – how many people can genuinely describe their jobs as fun? – then a position opened up in the office, handling sales and design, and another punt was taken (there’s a theme here). A few more years down the line I’ve enjoyed learning another side to our industry and it’s no less fun. The yard is well and truly home now and conveying what we’re about to those interested in us is probably the most satisfying bit of my job. There’s a really bright future for the Scottish Yard and one I’m looking forward to being part of with a great group of people.
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Alex Cloudsdale
Production and Scotland Yard Manager
Joined Carpenter Oak: 2000
Interview with Alex
What is the best project you have worked on and why?
Kilmartin Cottage. Massive scarf joint in sling braces and lovely clients.
When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
Pootling around on my estate or in reality, fixing my Land Rover
If stranded on a desert island, which three people would you take and why?
Ogilvy – he lives on a desert island, Iggy – she’d not be happy if I left her, Lisa – my daughter, she makes me smile
Which three people would be in your dream carpentry team and why?
Butty – Mr Dependable, Nico – devil’s advocate, Steve – Nutter.
What music do you listen to?
Almost everything except grime and rap.
What do you enjoy most about working with wood/oak?
I can do it.
Do you have a favourite quote?
‘It’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice’ – John Templeton
Biography
Started out as a guided missile systems engineer, went to work at an outdoor centre, followed by dry stone waller. Got noticed by the National Trust and eventually became warden for Coniston and Little Langdale. After ten years I moved on to Scotland and was an RSPB warden for a season, after which I was a jobbing joiner. Got asked by Carpenter Oak to help re erect the Castaway Pods for the BBC at Cove Park, then in 2000 got offered a permanent position. I still love it, the yard is probably one of the best places to work in the UK
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Nico Laurent
Team Leader
Joined Carpenter Oak: 2005
Interview with Nico
What is the best project you have worked on and why?
The Barn, a balcony curved in plan and elevation over two floors. I liked it because it was out of the ordinary and tricky to make
When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
Hill walking, rock climbing, riding my motorbike.
If stranded on a desert island, which three people would you take and why?
My best pal Geatan for fun, Bear Grylls could be handy, Billy Connolly for entertainment
What music do you listen to?
AC/DC, Captain Beefheart, The Clash
What is the best comedy film ever made?
The Life of Brian
What do you enjoy most about working with wood/oak?
The warmth of the material, the fact it’s renewable and that with basic tools and your hands you can transform it into something practical and beautiful.
Do you have a favourite quote?
‘Theory is a treasure whose practice is key’
Where is your favourite place in the world?
Fairy Glen, Skye
Biography
At the age of fifteen, influenced by my father, I decided to follow an apprenticeship as a timber framer in the Compagnons, a French trade school. I’ve been learning for the following eleven years, by travelling over France, changing yards every six months to see different ways of framing and taking evening and weekend training, doing models and drawings. Over this period, I went for a year in Sint Marteen in the Caribbean, to learn how to build storm-resistant structures. I had to stop framing for a year to serve in the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment where I did my time in New Caledonia in the South Pacific. In the last year of my training, motivated to learn English and through a friend who worked for Carpenter Oak, I came to Scotland, originally for a year’s experience, in 2005. I was offered to stay, so I’ve been working in Scotland ever since, enjoying the yard and the country.
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Graham Butler
Carpenter
Joined Carpenter Oak: 2002
Interview with Graham
What is the best project you have worked on and why?
Frizealach House, near Glenuig – a thirteen week project which I led on a tricky peninsula jutting out to sea. Oak frame outside, Douglas fir inside, nice client, lots of interesting follow on-stuff, swimming at lunch.
When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
Outdoorsy stuff – climbing, sea kayaking, open boat paddling trips especially. Family get-togethers, bonfires, camping, sleeping in extreme places, bivvying, van trips and playing with wood and metal.
If stranded on a desert island, which three people would you take and why?
My wife (cleaning/washing up etc – don’t quote me though) My old mate Pink – a cool dude in most situations Dolly Parton – for singalongs around the fire
Which three people would be in your dream carpentry team and why?
Ian McCloud, Jaime Ward, Sam Turley – interesting, travelled people with lots of framing skills
What is the most embarrassing job you have ever had?
Playing father Christmas at a local youth club
What music do you listen to?
I have a selection of middle of the road bands on my phone, but enjoy other people’s music collections – music can definitely instigate a mood.
What is the best comedy film ever made?
Waking Ned (British comedy usually has me in stitches)
What do you enjoy most about working with wood/oak?
The ease with which you can fashion something that could potentially still be around in a thousand years’ time.
Do you have a favourite quote?
‘You’ll only get a 500 year guarantee if it’s an oak frame’
Where is your favourite place in the world?
Home and Glenisla, then the Cuillin Hills, Skye
Biography
I’ve had 45 practical years in industry, starting life as an apprentice welder through maintaining a reactor plant, to access work on dams and high rise flats. Married, had two kids, remarried Jackie, opened a smithy for seven years. In 2002, in my mid-forties the opportunity to learn carpentry arose through Carpenter Oak – still learning all these years later. Never once looked back with regrets. I try to keep the electronic world as a periphery and have never lost interest in the seasons and the natural world.
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Steve Houston
Team Leader
Joined Carpenter Oak: 2010
Interview with Steve
What is the best project you have worked on and why?
Palm House for the Edinburgh Art Festival as it was a bit different and good fun to work on. Trebuchet for Outlaw King kept me fit lugging big timbers and running on the wheel.
When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
Going on adventure with the family, playing guitar and piano.
If stranded on a desert island, which three people would you take and why?
Crocodile Dundee, he’s pretty handy in the wilderness. Neil Young for entertainment around the campfire, my mate cos he’s not had a holiday in a while.
Which three people would be in your dream carpentry team and why?
The Hulk to lug all the heavy stuff and roll timbers, David Attenborough cos he looks like the kind of guy that could make a good cuppa and he’d have lots of stories to tell, Pythagorus to do the thinking and check my maths.
What is the most embarrassing job you have ever had?
Cleaning hire kilt outfits after wedding parties – find allsorts
What is the best comedy film ever made?
The Big Lebowski/Home Alone
What do you enjoy most about working with wood/oak?
Making something you can take pride in
Where is your favourite place in the world?
Rottiemurchus/Loch Morlich
Biography
After a childhood of being dragged around ‘interesting’ buildings I grew to appreciate and respect the structures around us. Some were good to climb around on too. Living around Edinburgh opens your eyes to lots of interesting sights. Got into framing by chance to help a friend. It was amazing to be making structures similar in ways to the structures I had admired growing up, plus I get to climb around on them.
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