AN AWARD-WINNING painter and decorator from Clacks has has capped a fantastic year by winning an Outstanding Achievement Award at Forth Valley College’s graduation ceremony.

Callum Bonner, who works for Clackmannanshire Council has just completed his four year Modern Apprenticeship (MA) and recently returned from Budapest where he became the first Forth Valley College MA to compete as part of Team UK at the EuroSkills event.

The 20-year-old is also the current holder of the Scottish Association of Painting Craft Teachers (SAPCT) Advanced Craft category prize, which he won at an event that was held at Dundee and Angus College in June, and has excelled in competition and training through the past year, in the build up to competing in Hungary.

At the graduation ceremony held at Stirling Castle on Thursday, October 11, Callum - who graduated with an Advanced Certificate in Painting and Decorating - was presented with his Merchant Guildry of Stirling sponsored award by Ross Martin, chair of the Forth Valley board of management.

Callum said: “I am totally buzzing about winning this award and was not expecting it at all. I can’t thank the college and the Merchant Guildry of Stirling enough for this award. Representing the college this year has been a big achievement.

“Competing in Budapest was amazing and something I will never, ever forget. Being on the big stage competing internationally was tremendous. It is great that I have now completed my MA, but I am going to miss my one day a week at college!”

More than 1000 students were eligible to graduate this year from Forth Valley College and 310 of them chose to collect their scrolls - 117 at Stirling Castle and 193 at the Falkirk Town Hall ceremony on Tuesday 9 October.

Barry Fisher, Director, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scotland spoke at Falkirk Town Hall, while guest speaker at the Stirling Castle event was Scotland’s Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science – Richard Lochhead.

The Alloa Bowmar Pipe Band were on hand to lead in the top table and guests of honour at both ceremonies.