Educational Establishments
GETTING Personal...
Dave Bell - happy doing what he’s doing, unless the chance to fly to Mars comes along!
Who are you? Dave Bell, Head Groundsman, Farnborough Hill School.
Family status? Married to Wendy, with two children, Lexie (4) and Chara (3), and Missie the dog.
Who’s your hero and why? Snooker player Stephen Hendry, for his commitment to be the best.
What would you change about yourself? I’d be an astronaut!
What’s your guilty pleasure? Cream cakes! What do you drop everything for? My kids.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far? Winning trophies for gardening. Glass half full or half empty? Half full.
Climate change - fact or fiction? Mostly fiction - it does change and always has, but in longer term cycles. What’s your favourite season? The Football Season!
If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be? Scotland - it’s Britain’s best kept secret!
What’s the best part of your job? The freedom to manage the grounds as I see fit. … and the worst? There isn’t one really.
Do you have a lifetime ambition? Not really - I’m happy doing what I am now.
Favourite record, and why? Precious Angel by Bob Dylan.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? My wife!
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Buy a Ferrari!
If you were to describe yourself as a musical instrument, what would you be and why? A piano - versatile, tuneful, always useful.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? Don’t put diesel in a petrol mower!
What’s your favourite smell? The smell of camping and bacon.
What do you do in your spare time? Days out with the family, camping and cycling.
What’s the daftest work related question you have ever been asked? Why shouldn’t I wear my ear defenders when weeding?
What’s your favourite piece of kit? Our John Deere 3520 tractor.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Confident, professional, cheerful.
What talent would you like to have? I’d like to be good at golf.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? I’d like to see VAT removed from plants.
108 PC OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 The original house has had sympathetic additions over the years
The grounds department moved to a modern wooden building five years ago which provides a large garage area, a separate workshop (read games room!) and a comfortable tea room/office. It’s a thoroughly professional set up which shows the best of the young groundsmen and their abilities. Even though it sounds busy, the team managed to hold a ‘Grounds Olympics’ during last year’s holidays, competing between themselves in various sports from croquet to golf to pool. Also, in their downtime, they can be seen hacking through the meadow on their own ‘round of golf ’. Aside from planning, the team have a passion for getting out and working in the grounds. Each member has his own area of responsibility, but the team then work together, blowing the drives, doing tree work, marking out pitches, and on other special projects.
Building Work
Every school has its share of building work and, this year at Farnborough Hill, construction of a new Music Suite is underway, which is due for completion in
What’s in the shed
John Deere 3520 tractor (2008) Ransomes Gangs (1996) Ryetec 1600 (2007) Tornado blower (2006) Geo spreader (2012)
Lishman 250L 5m sprayer (2013) Chain harrow (2012)
Honda HRD536 21” rotary (2012) Hayter Harrier 56 rotary (2004) John Deere rotary (2010)
Ransomes Marquis Mk4a cylinder mower (2012)
Saxon LM56 cylinder mower (2012)
Qualcast cylinder mower and scarifier
John Deere X300R ride on Saxon Triple ride on
Toro Wheelhorse - no deck, but with trailer Toro Workman Electric (2012)
The shed is well stocked with a wall of hand tools, and a well equipped workshop with everything from circlip pliers to welder and nail gun
November. The new building will look stunning when finished. However, the only access route was through the gardens so, in February, groundworkers dug through the main lawn beside the school house and laid a road of crushed aggregate. This was then secured with Herras fencing and became the boundary of the grounds teams work. It means that, when the road is lifted and the ground is reinstated, Dave and his team will have a major project to see the area restored properly. The grounds team, though disappointed with the mess, are looking positively upon the chance to have a new lawn with beds and borders and give the school’s main lawn a major revamp, levelling with a Koro, straightening the edges, installing Everedge and re-shaping the centre beds.
This positive outlook sums up the attitude of the small team at Farnborough Hill. As any groundsman knows, the variety of jobs is huge, but the opportunities and passions are just as big, and here they are alive and well.
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