Many congratulations to former student Rebecca Hamilton who was recently won the Stanley Allcard Cup, a prestigious award in the Blacksmithing industry. We sat down with her to find all about her life since leaving King's and how she became a blacksmith!

When were you at King's?

I started in First Form in 2012 and left Upper Sixth in 2019.
 

Which House were you in?

I was in Serlo House.
 

What are your favourite memories from your time at King's?

My favourite memories of King's are mainly overtaken by the amazing trips I went on; from the 2018 Sports Tour to Malaysia and Singapore, to my final trip to China in 2019. However, trips aside, spending most of my Sixth form life in DT learning how to weld and braze with Mr Ramstedt, and playing in all of the sports teams throughout my time at school. 
 

What did you do after leaving school?

I decided against going down the standard route of University as it wasn't for me and nothing truly interested me. So instead, I found a Blacksmithing and Metalwork course in Hereford at the National School of Blacksmithing, which I pursued for the next three years. In doing so, I achieved Outstanding Student, Best Blacksmith and Best Welder. I also entered my final college piece and competed in the live forging competitions at the Royal Three Counties and the Royal Welsh Shows, where I placed third and second respectively and first in the live forging.
 

Congratulations on your award win! Tell us all about it and how it feels to win The Stanley Allcard Cup?

My college nominated me for the Stanley Allcard Cup, which is presented by the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, and is awarded for outstanding potential and ability for any student studying this rural craft at the National School of Blacksmithing. Stanley Allcard was a Prime Warden for the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths in 1961, and a cup is presented to a student at the National School of Blacksmithing annually in his memory. I am extremely proud of being awarded a prize from the Blacksmithing Guild in London at Painter's Hall, which was a fantastic day. 
 

How did you get into Blacksmithing?

My love for metalwork started in a DT lesson where we did a mini forging project to produce a metal letter. From then on I avoided woodwork at school and learnt how to weld, pop rivet, braze, cast, etc. As well as that, I always knew I wanted to do something practical and artistic, and that I didn't want to work in an office in front of a computer. Therefore, I researched rural crafts and liked the idea of either blacksmithing or glassblowing and saw that there was a blacksmithing course not far from me and decided if not now, then when. The course was amazing and I learnt all about forging, welding, fabrication, technical and artistic drawing, and restoration; and I haven't looked back since.
 

What does the future hold? (Both in work and outside of work)

I am currently in the process of setting up a business with my boyfriend who's also a blacksmith, and I am looking forward to becoming an established Blacksmith. As well as that, we have decided to restore and renovate a narrowboat over the coming months.
 

And finally, if you could give one piece of advice to the current crop of sixth formers about to join the real world, what would it be?

In my own experience, contrary to popular belief, University isn't the only path after school. There are a wide variety of options that may be better suited to you, however, not everybody may agree with what you want to do but it doesn't matter what route you decide to take, it depends on you and how successful you are.