TWO MEMBERS of the stonemasonry team at Salisbury Cathedral have received awards for excellence.

Head Mason Lee Andrews was awarded The Worshipful Company of Masons’ Journeyman Craftsman Certificate Award from the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Peter Estlin, at The Carpenters Hall London on Monday 11 March.

The award is one of the highest awards given by the Worshipful Company of Masons to qualified masons with a minimum of 10 years’ experience, who can show that they work with and mentor junior stonemasons.

Lee joined the Cathedral in 2003 and became Head Mason in 2013.

And 25-year-old apprentice Stonemason Elle-Louise Baldwin was awarded the Stonemasonry Apprentice of the Year on Friday at Weymouth College.

Ella joined the Cathedral works team in 2017, having trained as a fine artist at Winchester Art College, receiving a BA Hons in Fine Art, specialising in painting.

Lee said: “This is a great honour to be receiving the Journeyman Award and the recognition from my peers in the great craft of stone masonry. I am pleased to be able to pass on what I have learnt through my career so far to future generations and look to learn even more as I progress further in my career.”

Gary Price, Clerk of the Works said: “I was honoured to be able to nominate Lee to receive this first journeyman award for contribution to the industry during his 15 years as a stonemason, it has been great watching Lee develop, first starting as an apprentice and then working his way up to become Head Mason.

"The award is very richly deserved."

Ella-Louise Baldwin said: “I was thrilled to receive the award. It has been exciting year, learning a completely new skill."

Gary added: “Ella has fitted in seamlessly and learnt very fast.

"We are incredibly proud of what she has achieved in a comparatively short time and she has more than rewarded us for giving her the opportunity to join the Cathedral Works Yard team, which is actually more of a family.”