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Heather Adgie: Meet Seacroft's own female painter and decorator
Two years ago, like 18-year-olds all over the UK, Seacroft's Heather Adgie was faced with a dilemma: what now?
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She left Leeds College of Art and Design with three A-levels in but decided university wasn't for her and didn't want to work in an office either.
So Heather decided to become a painter and decorator instead.
Heather, 20, now has a full time apprenticeship with Bell Group UK working on commercial jobs and is in her final year of a course at Leeds College of Building.
"I didn't think about what I was letting myself in for, once I had the idea in my head I just went for it because it was something different," she said.
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Heather has since entered five trade competitions, winning more than 1,000 in prize money.
Recently she came second in the painting and decorating category of the
SkillBuild 2008 awards, pocketing 800 in prize money and gaining a place to compete against the 2007 and 2008 winners for Team GB at the Skills Olympics in Canada next year.
"I couldn't live without my mobile phone, it would be like losing a limb. I once left it at college in my locker overnight and I've never been more frustrated, I couldn't get in touch with anyone. My boyfriend was really worried about me and when I got hold of it the next morning I had about 15 missed phone calls and 17 text messages.
"The best thing about Leeds is that it's home. I lived in East Anglia for six years and I really missed Leeds andcouldn't wait to move back, luckily my dad still lived here so I used visit often and then when I got the chance I applied to college here. I love the nightlife and the shopping. The clubs are great, Walkabout, Oceana and Baja are my favourites.
"My first job was at a Wacky Warehouse restaurant in East Anglia, rescuing kids and returning them to their parents if they got stuck in the tunnels or at the top of the slide because they were too scared to go down. It was great fun working there but I once got stuck in one of the tunnels on my way to rescue someone and had to be rescued myself.
"I'm most proud of coming second in the SkillBuild competition. I did so much better on my piece than I thought I could. We were given three days and three walls to work on. I painted a big Yorkshire rose that had blue and yellow petals and a crest in the middle with stars on it, the background was dark blue with stars and I had to paper around the light switch. It ended up being about three metres wide and two high. I feel proud when I take a step back and look at a finished job and think "I did that."
"I'm always relaxed while I'm working, I put my ipod on and start painting the ceiling, then the walls and woodwork and the time flies by – I find it really therapeutic. Indie bands like Keane, Kings of Leon and the Kaiser Chiefs are my favourites.
"I had a good childhood in Leeds until I was 10 but I didn't like moving away, I was seen as different in East Anglia because of my accent and was sometimes bullied. I have good memories of being little, when I was about three I desperately wanted a saxophone and my mum bought me a bubble one, I loved it and took it everywhere with me.
"My mum gave me the best piece of advice I've ever had, she said "Go and learn a trade, once you know it you will always have it." I'm really thankful to her now because I have found what I love – she's very hands on so I must take after her.
"The last time I cried was at the SkillBuild awards ceremony, when I found out I'd come second. I burst into tears and flung my arms around the presenter. Then when I found my tutor I cried for about ten minutes, I was just so shocked. I had to have my photo taken and looked horrendous in it – you could tell I'd been crying.
"My philosopy for life is to always do whatever you want to do. There's only one other woman where I work, so I get a lot of attention when I go to a new job but it's never put me off – sometimes it's annoying when the men offer to do things for me that I can do myself, like carry a pair of lightweight steps, but at the same time I know that I can get help if I need it.
"I wouldn't mind meeting the Queen, I'd ask her if she could introduce me to Prince Harry. She'd probably put me in the Tower of London though!
"I'm very girlie so people are always surprised when I tell them I'm a painter and decorator – they never believe me. I love getting dressed up to go out, once I've got all my make-up on, four-inch heels and a nice dress people think I'm joking – until I show them the paint in my hair and under my nails. But I can't get away with being girlie on the building sites, I have to wear old clothes, overalls and steel toe cap boots and a high visibility jacket.
"I'm with my first love now, my boyfriend Craig. We met at college, he's a decorator too – he gets a lot of stick because I'm entered for all of the competitions, but he's a brilliant decorator, I actually think he's better than me – but I don't let him know that!
"All my jokes come from my seven-year-old brother but I still find them funny: what do you call a sheep with no legs? A cloud."
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