LAD’S A CHIPPY OFF OLD BLOCK!
Mum and son team bonding on their building course
STUDENT Thomas Rose has to watch his building site banter now his mum has joined his college course.
The 18-year-old is learning construction skills and dreams of becoming a carpenter one day.
His mum Sallyann is studying at the same campus while she retrains as a handywoman.
The single mum, from Castle Vale near Birmingham, is a freelance book-keeper but has spent 18 months doing courses in plumbing, electrics, carpentry, painting and decorating, and plastering.
She is about to complete a course in bricklaying too.
Despite her unusual career path, Thomas says he doesn’t mind having Sallyann around while he learns the tricks of his trade.
The mother and son team are even considering starting their own business once they have qualified.
Sallyann, 54, said: “It’s something I’ve become more and more interested in as I’ve gotten older.
“I had a leaky radiator and I kept calling someone out to fix it. But each time they were only here five minutes and I thought, ‘I could do that’.”
Thomas enrolled at Erdington Skills Centre in Birmingham in September 2016. Sallyann joined just two months later.
Since acquiring her new skills she has taken on a number of ambitious DIY jobs at her house including fitting a new radiator in the living room and rewiring the lights.
She said: “As a single mum it’s nice not to have to rely on anyone to come in and do these jobs.
“I think the only time I’ve seen Thomas roll his eyes is when a song I knew he liked came on the radio in the workshop and I started dancing around.
“He’s used to me now though. He knows what I’m like. He just shakes his head and carries on.” Thomas added: “I don’t really mind too much. She was a teaching assistant at the school I was at, so I’m used to having her around.
“It’s always a bit cringey seeing your mum dancing, especially in front of all of your friends, but I’m used to her by now.
“I’d love to go into business with her one day.”