Spring/Summer 2019

on

Mountsorrel Granite top of the rocks for Sir David AttenboroughLeicestershire-born Sir David Attenborough is a much-loved broadcaster, best known for programmes such as the Blue Planet. We found out earlier this year that he’s also an avid admirer of Mountsorrel granite. Trevor Warren, works manager, tells us more.

In January, BBC Radio Leicester presenter Ben Jackson got in touch asking for some granite samples for Sir David Attenborough, who he had recently interviewed for his show.

It turned out that Sir David is a fan of Mountsorrel granite, crediting his study of the rock with earning him a scholarship at Cambridge university. He also spoke of his own prized collection of pink granite that he donated to the University of Leicester’s geology department in 1951 when it was founded.

Ben asked if we could send some granite to Sir David to restore his collection. We were delighted to help.

Ben came to visit the quarry and, after showing him around, we chose a piece of granite large enough for Sir David to see its unique geological features.

We sent the rock off to him, along with a selection of quarry photographs dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, and a copy of Mountsorrel Arts and Heritage Group’s book Memories of Stone, Steam and Steel.

We were thrilled to receive a personal letter back from Sir David a few weeks later, thanking us for the gifts, especially the granite sample which he described as “magnificent” and “superb”.

I’ve been a keen geologist all my life and, like many people, have enjoyed Sir David’s work. I never thought I would have the opportunity to correspond with him directly, especially over something as close to me as Mountsorrel Quarry. It’s a real privilege to know that despite travelling the world far and wide, Sir David still remembers the unique and special qualities of our Mountsorrel granite.

Trevor Warren and Ben Jackson discussing Mountsorrel granite

Mountsorrel in your local community

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Remembering the fallenA memorial project in Newtown Linford to remember fallen soldiers from the village who fought in the First World War has received a sizeable boost.

Approached by Linford Ex Servicemen’s Club, we supplied a five and a half tonne granite stone for the memorial, which was installed at the front of the club as part of a wider refurbishment project.

The stone bears a plaque with a Roll of Honour of local names.

Update on Bond Lane repairs We’re continuing our work to repair the 100-year-old wall at Bond Lane, which collapsed following a visit from the ‘Beast from the East’ in February and March last year.

In February we carried out more tests on the ground to help us understand the repair options available to us.

Our engineers have analysed the results and developed final design plans for the work. These plans were submitted to Leicestershire County Council’s highways team and have been agreed in principle.

We’re now working with the council to finalise the details of the repairs. All being well, we hope to start works in late spring and anticipate these will take around four months to complete.

Once again, we would like to thank our quarry neighbours and residents in the village for their patience while we continue to resolve this matter.

Supporting local studentsWe’re supporting students at Rawlins Academy to prepare for life after school.

Working with national educational charity SkillForce, we’ve designed a tailored, one-year programme to help pupils develop their skills for professional employment.

As part of the course, students will learn top tips for CV writing, presenting and team leadership from SkillForce instructors, who are highly-experienced in enabling young people to realise their potential.

The programme is inspired by the Prince William Award, one of the leading schemes in the UK that is helping children to improve behaviour, engagement with school, social skills and attainment.

Martin Riley, Tarmac’s senior vice president, said: “This new programme will help to prepare pupils for the workplace by mentoring them in key skills and behaviours, giving them a great head start as they take their first steps into the world of work.

“We’re really proud to be the first business to partner with SkillForce on this prestigious new scheme, which will support students to build on their Prince William Award and hopefully inspire some to take up an exciting career in the construction industry.”

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Kinchley Lane updateWe’re close to finishing our work on Kinchley Lane to create new mounds – known as landforms – that will help to preserve views to Swithland Reservoir and offer better screening for residents who live in properties close to the quarry.

We’re making the landforms using overburden – soils and other materials that lie on top of the quarry’s granite – from an area of the quarry we’re extracting as part of our project to install a new primary crusher machine.

All the overburden from the quarry should be moved into place and compacted to create the levels for the landforms by the end of March 2019. The original soils that were on the farmland before works started will then be put back on top of the compacted overburden and a drainage system will also be installed. Once finished, the land will be restored to agricultural land.

When we can start this final phase of the work depends on the weather, but we hope to start laying soils in April.

Rail ballast: Awash with innovationWe’ve been working with Network Rail to look at how we can improve our process for making rail ballast to drive enhanced health and safety standards.

We are a long-term supplier to Network Rail, sending them ballast to help maintain thousands of miles of railway track across England, Wales and Scotland.

As the rock extracted from the quarry is made into rail ballast it can form a layer of dust around it. It is therefore essential that we keep the stone as clean as possible and remove any dust accumulated to protect the welfare of railway workers who physically handle it.

At Mountsorrel, we always wash the stone before it is sent along the conveyors to our Barrow railhead. Once Network Rail receives the ballast it washes it again before laying it on a railway track.

Having reviewed the process, we felt that improvements could be

made by introducing a second washing stage after the stone has been moved from the quarry to the railhead, as dust mostly forms while it is in transit on the covered conveyors. We’ve therefore invested in a new rinsing station at our railhead, which will allow us to carry out a second wash before it is loaded onto the trains.

Works to construct the new rinsing plant were finished towards the end of last year. The new machinery has a set of powerful spray bars capable of jet washing the stone in large amounts. The water used will

be collected, cleaned and reused in future wash cycles to ensure we make the most of our resource.

We have tested the plant and are now making a few small modifications to make sure it’s as efficient as possible before integrating it into our day-to-day operation. We are looking forward to having the new rinsing facility up and running so that we deliver the cleanest rail ballast we can.

For more information, please contact Rail Manager Jamie Skipper on: jamie.skipper@tarmac.com

Happy first birthdayMountsorrel Memorial Centre has just celebrated its first year having already become a popular and important community destination.

Built on the site of the former Memorial Hall, work on the Centre was commissioned by Mountsorrel Memorials Trust and Mountsorrel Parish Council in December 2016.

We supported the project with funding through the Landfill Communities Fund and also supplied granite for the Centre’s construction. Last autumn, the Centre scooped the award for ‘Large Non-Residential Scheme of the Year’ at the Leicestershire Property and Construction Awards, which showcase the best construction projects across the county.

The venue can accommodate up to 550 people and has multiple spaces for hire, with shops and a café. In its first year, the Centre has been home to theatre performances, live music gigs, charity discos, business meetings,

conferences, weddings and private parties. The space is also regularly used by local groups and Christ Church and St Peter’s CE Primary School.

Cllr Mick Lemon, chair of Mountsorrel Parish Council’s Recreation and Amenities Committee, said: “The Centre has opened up so many new and exciting opportunities for the community in its first 12 months and helped to bring people with similar interests together.

“We’d like to continue building on the success of our first year and would welcome suggestions from the community for activities, performances or events they’d like to see in the future.”

If you’ve got an idea or want to find out more then please get in touch with Cllr Lemon via the parish council clerk by emailing clerk@mountsorrelparishcouncil.co.uk or calling 0116 2303809.

The rinsing plant under construction

Five minutes with…. Mick StevensAt Mountsorrel Quarry, we’re proud to have over 100 employees working in a variety of jobs –from on-the-ground operational roles to office-based support, our colleagues work hard to keep things running smoothly.

In this issue, we spoke to Interim Maintenance Manager Mick Stevens about his career and interests.

Name:

Mick Stevens

Job title:

Interim Maintenance Manager, Mountsorrel Quarry

How long have you worked at the quarry?

31 years in August this year. The time has really flown by. I first joined as a quarry labourer and I’ve been lucky enough to do most of the jobs around the quarry since then. I’ve been a Machine Driver, Primary Crusher Operator, Explosives Supervisor, Assistant Quarry Manager, Railhead Manager and Estates Manager. I also travelled with Trevor Warren to the Ukraine to carry out some work on explosives out there.

What was your first job?

Before Mountsorrel, I was an apprentice mechanic in the knitting trade. This was my first job out of school. The business was based in Leicester and made socks.

Working at the quarry was what I’d always wanted to do though. My nan and brother were both employed at Mountsorrel and their jobs sounded really interesting. Back then you had to be 18 before you could start on site, so I spent a few years getting some experience before landing my first quarry job.

Quarrying still runs in my family today. My daughter, son and sister-in-law all work at Mountsorrel. I’m really proud that we’ve kept the industry in my family, and I think it’s something that’s quite rare these days.

What do you do now?

I’m the Interim Maintenance Manager. I oversee the day-to-day planning of maintenance work across the site, assigning repair tasks to different members of staff.

My favourite bit of the job is working with the maintenance team. I have a team of five or six people and also work with 20 contractors. Everyone works hard and supports each other.

What is special about working at Mountsorrel Quarry?

It’s the community environment that makes Mountsorrel so unique really. Most of us live in the nearby villages and there are number of us that joined decades ago and still work together on site today. Every day I come to work with some of my closest friends, so it doesn’t really feel like work at all.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I play golf with my dad. He’s in his eighties, but he’s still got a good swing in him!

If you could do another job for a day, what would it be and why?

I’d love to work with the RSPCA to help look after mis-treated animals. Whenever I see animals that have been abused on the TV, I always feel so sorry for them.

Get in touchThese are just some of the ways we can help. If you would like to find out more about our work in the local community, or if you have a project that would benefit from our support, please get in touch with our community relations team by emailing mountsorrelquarryfeedback@tarmac.com

Lending a helping handMembers of our team are always happy to get stuck in and lend a helping hand where it’s needed.

During the restoration of the Mountsorrel Railway, many of our staff volunteered their skills to help restore over one mile of railway track, using traditional Victorian tools and methods. We also gave technical advice during the planning phase of the restoration to ensure the team could achieve the necessary consents to fulfil the project.

Members of the Mountsorrel team creating new pathways

Donating local stoneWe’ve helped many local groups to create impressive features using local stone extracted from the quarry.

Last year, we donated a five-tonne granite rock to Quorn in Bloom as part of its plans to renovate St Bartholomew’s Church View Garden. The stone now stands at the heart of a new walkway into the garden, which has been created to improve access to the church.

We also worked with Syston in Bloom to establish a new memorial at Syston railway station dedicated to local people who left for the First World War from the station.

The new feature installed by Quorn in Bloom at St Bartholomew’s Church

The Landfill Communities Fund (LCF)The Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) is available to local groups for a variety of approved community and environmental projects within seven miles of a Tarmac waste, cement and lime or quarrying site, provided they are within 10 miles of any licensed landfill site.

Established by the government in 1996, the LCF enables landfill operators to donate part of their annual tax liability to enrolled Environmental Bodies to support a range of local projects.

To date, a number of projects have been funded by the LCF around Mountsorrel, Quorn and the surrounding villages, including renovations and access improvements to the Old School House, the Mountsorrel and Rothley Heritage Centre and the Mountsorrel Memorial Centre.

For more information, please visit http://www.entrust.org.uk or contact Derbyshire Environmental Trust, which administers the fund on our behalf, on 01629 539182 or 01629 538614, or at det@derbyshire.gov.uk

Area Business Manager Chris Pink at the official opening of Quorn’s Old School House

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Name: Josh Davis

Age: 22

Job title: Electrical Apprenticeship Level 3

What does your apprenticeship involve?I’m training to become an electrician. My time is split between working at the quarry and studying at Leicester College. It’s a four-year programme

with coursework and exams to complete along the way.

What are you learning?It’s a mix of hands-on learning and classroom study. I work on lots of different projects around the quarry to develop the skills I need for the job. This can be fitting plug sockets at The Hub offices to testing traffic lights at a pedestrian crossing. I’m also learning about processes at the quarry.

At college, I study the theory behind what I’ve been doing on site. There’s a lot to take in but it really helps to back up what I’ve learned on the job.

Why did you apply for an apprenticeship with Tarmac?I was studying an electrical course at night college, which I enjoyed, but

I wanted to learn more about the different parts of the job.

How are you finding it?The atmosphere at Mountsorrel is really friendly and supportive. I work in a team of 10 people who all have different experiences. I’ve learned a lot from them, and they’ve really encouraged me to develop new skills. Every day is different, so I’m constantly learning new things.

What do you want to do in the future?I’d like to stay at Mountsorrel. It’s a great place to work with lots of opportunities. So many of the people I know have worked at the quarry for years. I’d like to follow in their footsteps and build my career here.

Name: Rory MadelinAge: 19Job title: Operations Management Higher Apprenticeship

What does your apprenticeship involve?As well as working on site, I’m studying for a foundation degree in mineral products technology at the University of Derby. In my three-year apprenticeship, I’ll experience a range of jobs around the quarry to learn about the industry.

What are you learning?I’m learning a lot about quarrying and the materials the extracted granite makes.

I’m currently based at the asphalt plant, learning how it’s made and what it’s used for. I’ve also visited customers who use our asphalt products to see how the material is laid.

My next placement is at the quarry’s offices, The Hub, where I’ll be working in product sales. By the end of my apprenticeship, I will have had jobs at the quarry, primary crusher, railhead and readymix concrete plant. It’s really exciting to think about how much experience I’ll have once I’ve finished my qualification.

While I’m working, I study for my degree for a couple of hours a day. I go to the university once or twice a month for seminars, which are helpful in backing up the practical skills I’ve learned on site.

Why did you apply for an apprenticeship with Tarmac?I’ve always been interested in geography and knew I wanted to study a course that had a balance of practical training and academic study. I was excited by the opportunity

to train with Tarmac because of its reputation as an industry leader and its work on sustainability.

How are you finding it?I feel really lucky to be based at Mountsorrel, as there’s so much going on for me to get involved with. I knew the quarry existed, but I didn’t realise its importance for the construction industry. It’s been fascinating to learn where the granite goes and what it’s used to build.

I was really nervous when I started because it’s such a big operation. I needn’t have worried though, as everyone on site is so knowledgeable and friendly.

What do you want to do in the future?I’d love to continue working at Tarmac and move into a supervisory role. It’s a great company to work for as there are so many opportunities to progress.

I’ve enjoyed working with the asphalt team, so I’m considering specialising in this field.

They’ve got skills, they’re multiplyingWe’re committed to giving young people the opportunity to train, build careers, and develop their skills in construction. We offer apprenticeships in a range of disciplines at Mountsorrel. We caught up with two of our apprentices on site to find out more about what they do.