L to R : Bob Bedo, David Walker, John Willis (Head Groundsman), Rod Otto, Neil Coleman and Terry Erskine


David employs a staff of five to look after the grounds. Bob Bedo is the longest serving with 30 years service, followed by John Willis (Head Groundsman) and Rod Otto who both have 16 years service, Terry Erskine 14 years and the newest recruit, Neil Coleman, who has just completed his first year.


The school also receives regular visits


from Graham Adlem, an Interserve grounds advisor, who inspects the work being undertaken and advises on any grounds maintenance issues. David and Graham work closely together to ensure the safe procurement of services.


The school offers a wide range of traditional outdoor sporting facilities for its pupils. The delivery of sport is fitted into three terms Spring (January- April), Summer (April-July), Autumn/Winter (September-January).


The grounds are extensive with plenty


of room for further development if required. The facilities include six grass rugby pitches with training grid areas, one football pitch, eight tennis courts (six grass courts and two tarmac), two grass hockey pitches, three cricket squares and a six lane all weather Redgra athletics track. There is also a small, six hole golf facility and a full size synthetic, sand filled all weather pitch. As you might expect at a military school there is a large drill square, which accommodates netball courts, a rifle range and an adjacent assault course. As well as maintaining the sports areas the staff look after all the amenity areas in and around the buildings and living quarters. These include a lot of trees and woodlands along with formal gardens and hedges.


All of the work is carried by the on-site


team with the exception of specialist works such as drainage. During the past two years all the staff have become certificated and trained in the use of various pieces of equipment and machinery. Between them they have chainsaw, PA1, PA2 and PA6 spraying, tractor driving and small equipment competence certificates, along with relevant on the job skills training that has encompassed specific sports pitch maintenance training days. Typical of a military establishment, all the work is programmed and specified in a contract that provides detailed descriptions of how the work must be undertaken.


David cannot, and does not, allow the


groundstaff to deviate from the specifications of the contract, so they work to rigid guidelines although deviations can still be considered on merit and customer requirements.


Unit 11B, Hill Farm Estate, Irthlingborough Road, Little Addington, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN14 4AS, UK Ph: 01933 652235 Email: info@trimaxmowers.co.uk


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