AND FINALLY


Samac supports next generation at Colchester Institute


Samac Fixings has made a number of donations to Colchester Institute’s Wood Occupations Department for use in hands-on learning.


The further education college in Essex helps students and apprentices build the practical skills and confidence they need as they prepare for careers in the trades. The donated materials will give students experience with the kinds of products and practical tasks they are likely to come across as they move into the industry.


Commercial manager at Samac Fixings, Simon McElrea, said: “Colleges like Colchester Institute play an


important role in helping bring through the next wave


of tradespeople. We feel lucky to be in a position where we can help in a practical way, and we trust these donations go some way towards helping their learners build confidence, develop useful skills and take those vital early steps into the trade.”


Samac Fixings has made four donations to Colchester Institute since last October, continuing a practical link between the business and the college’s trade training.


Travis Perkins branch manager to cycle length of the UK


South London Travis Perkins branch manager, Richard Galloway, is taking on the almost 1,000-mile cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats over two weeks to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society. He said: “Alzheimer’s is devastating. I have seen those I am closest to, who have done so many things in their lives, suffer from the disease and it is heart-breaking to see. “I took up cycling seven years ago and the challenge of going from Land’s End to John O’Groats has always been something I have thought about doing but to do it and raise money at the same time is a win-win.”


West Fraser raises £10k


towards hospice charity’s new community van


West Fraser has donated £10k to care charity Strathcarron Hospice in Denny, Falkirk for a new community van. Strathcarron Hospice provides specialist end-of-life care for people


Galloway is set to cycle between 60 and 80 miles each day for a two-week period at the end of May.


Meanwhile, Two Travis Perkins colleagues, Eddy Webb and Brian Kemp, have completed a combined 200km running and cycling challenge, undertaking 100km each to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society, the business’ chosen charity.


The pair from the Chipping Norton branch on Station Road raised just under £3,000 for the charity, with Webb, 32, running 100km in a day, and Kemp taking to the Cotswolds hills on his bike to complete his 100km cycle.


across central Scotland in its hospice, in patients’ own homes and in hospitals. It is also actively involved in research and education in palliative care, as well as promoting open discussion around end- of-life care.


The funds raised by the team at West Fraser have helped the charity purchase a new, specially adapted community care van, which will support it in bringing hospice care and important conversations directly into local and more rural communities across Forth Valley, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth. The new van was officially unveiled as part of the hospice’s 45th anniversary.


May 2026 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


BMJ BRAIN TEASER PRIZE CROSSWORD


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>>>


26


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Across 1 Total (3-2) 4 Fat bakers make a hash of the morning meal (9) 9 Framework of hexagonal cells (9) 10 Petty officer on a merchant ship (5) 11 Game with traps and checks (3,6) 12 Headed (5) 13 “Good Will Hunting” star (4,5) 15 Cheap WW2 sub-machine gun (4) 17 Of the present month (4) 19 Victories (9) 23 Overtly aggressive man (5) 24 Perceptive (9) 26 Where you are now (5) 27 Noiseless (9) 28 Aping (9) 29 Sides in an eternal battle (5)


29


Down 1 Belief that there is no God (7) 2 Not strict (7) 3 Cargoes (8) 4 Tolerate (5) 5 At an early stage (9) 6 Sticky snacks? (6) 7 Kind of rifle (7) 8 Switched on (5,2) 14 Il Duce (9) 16 Humiliates (8) 17 Tel Aviv native, for example (7) 18 Feudal Japanese warrior (7) 20 Support for an orator (7) 21 Artists’ models (7) 22 Battle of Jericho leader (6) 25 Colloquialism (5)


WIN a bottle of something fizzy from BMJ’s local award- winning winery Chapel Down. Simply send in your completed scanned crossword entry, including your name and address to bmjournaldotnet@gmail.com by the end of the month. Or, post it to BMJ, Dateam Business Media, 15A London Road, Maidstone ME16 8LY.


Entries must be received by May 31 Last month’s solution


1 9


E S C


11 R 14 2 H 3 T


L O T H S


I


O U T E R 13


E 17 20 22 27


A S S U A


30


T U L I P S


B L


N


N D E R 28


M N O E T 4 F 10 12 5 S R 6 G I 7 S R 8 A


O V E R R A T E D R


D R Y 15


S A


U R S T 18


O E


A D V E N T U R E I


G


Y N A G 16


G 19


H I P Y A R D S 23


26 I


P A I D D


G R A N D I O S E E


R Y N O 24 H R


O G U E L


S M O K E D H


C U 29


31 I 21


O W 25


D P


D O S


M I N E S O W E U N I T S R


N S


Across: 9 Sloth, 10 Overrated, 11 Outer, 12 Adventure, 13 Dry, 14 Tulip, 15 Synagogue, 17 Burst, 19 Smoke, 22 Shipyards, 24 How do, 26 I-C U, 27 Underpaid, 29 Mines, 30 Grandiose, 31 Units.


Down: 1 Escorts, 2 Hostel, 3 Third party, 4 Forays, 5 Servings, 6 Grin, 7 Struggle, 8 Adhered, 16 Good humour, 17 Blind man, 18 Toreador, 20 Assuage, 21 Possess, 23 Sidney, 25 Win-win, 28 Rode


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