THE ROBEY Trust, a charitable organisation responsible for the annual Tavistock Steam Festival has just awarded one of its budding engineers, 17-year old Jack Ayland, with the National Apprentice of the Year award.

John Durling, chairman of the Steam Apprentice Club, recalled how Jack presented himself to the Steam Apprentice Club for consideration with an enormously heavy backpack filled with examples of his work for the trust, including not only engineering drawings and reports he had written about his activities but also metal components he had made.

Four representatives of the club journeyed from their base in the north east of the country on Bank Holiday Monday to present the Devonport High School student with the trophy and take a tour of the partly completed extension of the trust's premises at the Parade Business Park off Pixon Lane, Tavistock.

The premises include engines and other artefacts housed at the works. During which the rare tritandem steamroller was in-steam in all its glory in the yard.

This prestigious award is just the latest in a list of Jack's achievements, which also include a scholarship carrying a bursary to be shared equally between him and his school.

Robey Trust members are proud of their young trainees and what they achieve, not least Dave Davies who has been Jack's principal mentor throughout.