Educational Establishments
2006, when I then moved here to Queen’s.” In all of his jobs, ongoing training has been of major importance to keep Gary up to date with the latest innovations or technologies. He has completed a number of training
programmes including; Foundation degree in Horticulture/Sports Turf Management; City and Guilds qualifications in Horticulture; Pesticide competency PA1, PA6A; NTC in Turf culture and Sports Ground Management. He has also undertaken various accredited
The Fibresand arena pitch accommodates rugby, Gaelic football and football
certificates in sports turf and fine turf maintenance; First Aid qualification and a number of University training and safety programmes including Purchasing/Procurement, Diversity and Equal Opportunities, Appraiser training, Selection Interview, Asbestos training, Accident Reporting, Oil Spill Training, Environmental Awareness, Risk assessment, NPTC Chipper/Shredder Operations, CS30 Chainsaw Operations and many more procedural, training and safety courses. The well trained Gary also holds the purse
strings to the budget for the sports facility. “I work for the University Estates
Directorate and have responsibility for spending within a budget which is set each year as part of a Service Level Agreement with our colleagues at Queen’s Sport,” he explained. “Within my structures, I report to the Head
of Estates Services, and regularly meet with him as well as the Head of Administration and Resources.” Ongoing redevelopment plays a major part
in Gary’s running of the complex. Adding to the new synthetics put down in 2007, there has been a major development programme undertaken from 2009 to 2012. During that programme a new pavilion was
The Queen’s University groundstaff ... “
built, along with the sowing of three new grass pitches, the installation of two new synthetic pitches, floodlights, irrigation system and improved drainage. Gary is proud to lead a dedicated team of
staff, some of whom have been there for ten years. “I have three full time members of staff:
Mark Crawford told me to say he was twenty-one, but he’s had a tough paper round and is really thirty-nine
Andrew Wray (32) lead hand, ten years service; John Tumilson (50) ten years; and Mark Crawford, who told me to say he was twenty-one, but he’s had a tough paper round and is really thirty-nine. He has been with us for six years.” If outside help is required, Gary has a list of
contacts he can call when needed. “We can call upon our gardening department if additional staff is needed for assistance. We have a great set-up between the groundstaff and University gardening department, which gives us flexibility when extra help is needed.” “It would be remiss of me not to thank
Paul Wallace, the Head Gardener, for all the help and support he gives me. He does though like to think we are the ‘B team’, but I humour him.” "We employ up to four summer placement
... some are older than they claim! 82 I PC OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015
students from the University each year from June to September. Consultants or agronomists would be considered for major programmes.”
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