BRENDAN THINKING HOME MOVIES INSTALL

Instead, tiny lights are installed in each, all running from fibre optic cables that Brendan helped install and box in (once again, in oak to fit the magnificent Chapel pews and adorning decorations).

Traditionally, of course, these were real candles with live flames, but thankfully is no longer the case. Visitors to the Chapel, whether for a service or just to look around, will now see hundreds of electric 'candles' interspersed among the pews. I'm glad it's all done now because I'm not sure I could do it anymore!' I had to pull over a little roof that I'd made and I can tell you that it's really high up there. So, everything we sealed in on the inside and then on the outside, a double scaffold was up to protect them from the weather. So we had to come up with a sort of cladding - timber frames with plastic on the front, and attached it to the scaffold to make it dustproof.

BRENDAN THINKING HOME MOVIES WINDOWS

'When the stonemasons came in to take the windows away, the glaziers were concerned that dust could potentially get into the organ. One of the first projects Brendan was tasked with was to provide protection for the Chapel from dust and rain as much of the stained glass was taken away for restoration work. In fact, Brendan thinks that he has worked on every room in Old Quad and the majority of the rooms elsewhere in College.В That certainly comes across as we walk through the College, constantly seeing something else that Brendan has worked on.ДЄfter 30 years of working in College, there are some projects that particularly stand out. Some things must be fixed in place - not easy when the items in question can be incredibly heavy and can't have noticeable fixings, such as the Chapel's notice board (the result of one Burden sketch) pictured below. 'Because things have to be in keeping with everything that already exists in College, I get to use lots of oak and beautiful soft woods, which is amazing.'ДЄnd even once things have been created, the work is often not over. And of course, it's important that everything is designed and created to fit in with the aesthetic of similar features within College, which may have been there since it was built (no pressure!) As well as being challenging, this does afford opportunities: Brendan tells me of Prof Burden's 'famous sketches' - Michael will design something from scratch or based on another design feature somewhere within College, draw it and then hand over to Brendan to execute it. Some of his work comes from Professor Michael Burden in his role as Pictures and Chattels Fellow. 'That's why it's interesting - never two days the same, always doing something different.'

The nature of the work means that it's very project-based - and as soon as one thing is completed, he could be working on something completely different in a new part of College. One thing that Brendan has always enjoyed is the variety that his role offers. He bought his former boss's van and tools and is still with New College 25 years later.

BRENDAN THINKING HOME MOVIES TRIAL

Still just 21, Brendan was given the opportunity to have a six month trial to see whether he could handle the job alone. And I still get that buzz today as I come in, look up and think about how this is no ordinary building site - it's brilliant!'ДЄfter five years of working with and teaching Brendan, Pete retired. 'I can remember driving through in the van as a 17-year-old thinking 'Oh my gosh, what's this castle? It's like something in a movie' and it really is. New College made an immediate impression. Portrait of Brendan Holmes in the Oxford Mail's Training and Enterprise section, Tuesday October 20th 1992. In fact, his apprenticeship featured in the Oxford Mail's Training and Enterprise section in October that year, providing us with the wonderful image below: At 16, he left school and began a three-year apprenticeship through Oxpens (City of Oxford College), under the watchful eye of carpenter Pete Moffat, who handled the carpentry for the College at the time. In fact, Brendan has been working on New College since 1992.

Brendan thinking home movies