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Local brothers make history at national trade skills finals

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We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

In what's believed to be a first for any UK college, two brothers have both reached the podium in different disciplines at the prestigious SkillBuild national finals.

The big picture: SkillBuild is a national competition that tests the skills of construction trade apprentices. This year's finals saw hundreds of competitors from across the country competing in various disciplines.

  • George Page, 21, secured second place in carpentry

  • Sam Page, 20, achieved joint third place in plumbing

Brothers Sam and George Page
Brothers Sam and George Page both competed in SkillBuildSuffolk New College

Behind the success:

  • George, from Harkstead, completed a challenging two-and-a-half-day task building a garden seat with a roof.

  • Sam, who lives in Ipswich, competed over two days at Oldham College against the country's top plumbing apprentices.

  • Both brothers represented Suffolk New College and qualified through regional heats in Colchester.

What they're saying: "To have two brothers get to the national finals is very unusual — I can't imagine any other college has ever managed to have two brothers reach that level in two different construction finals," said Lloyd Ince, construction lecturer.

George, who works for SEH French, said: "The pressure was big, but I was able to manage it. To get to the final is a highly regarded achievement and I'd say to others, if you get given the opportunity to do this, get involved and enjoy the experience."

Looking ahead: Sam, who works for Whitwell Services in Hadleigh, is now hoping to progress to a selection phase in Northern Ireland that could lead to representing the country in WorldSkills, known as the skills 'Olympics'.

The bottom line: The brothers' success reinforces the quality of local construction apprenticeships, with both siblings now working towards promising careers in their chosen trades.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

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Mountain bike stolen from outside Anglia Retail Park restaurant

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Ipswich.co.uk Logomark in a circle

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We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

Police are appealing for witnesses after a blue Boardman mountain bike was stolen from outside Tim Hortons in Ipswich.

The bicycle was taken between 10.20 and 10.30 on Thursday 6 March from outside the restaurant at Anglia Retail Park.

The blue Boardman mountain bike was stolen
Police are appealing for witnesses after a blue Boardman mountain bike was stolen from outside Tim Hortons in IpswichSuffolk Constabulary

Ipswich Police shared the appeal on social media, asking anyone with information to come forward.

Officers have assigned the crime reference number 37/12273/25 to the case.

Anyone who witnessed the theft or has information about the stolen blue Boardman mountain bike is asked to contact police via their online reporting system at https://orlo.uk/2zoxs or by calling 101, quoting the crime reference number.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

We can't do this without you!

If you value strong, free, independent local media that fights tirelessly for our town, please consider contributing just £24 per year

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