12 March 2021
In this week's 'A Conversation With... ' we chat to Design, Engineering and Technology Teacher, Mr Tom Bayley. Mr Bayley loves nothing more than fixing or reusing things that people have discarded, turning them into something new and useful.
How long have you been at Shiplake and what is your role(s)?
I have been at Shiplake for just over 5 years, I started in January 2017, the same day as Mr Curran.
What would you say is the best thing about Shiplake?
From the day I had my interview I have felt as though it was a home from home, and moving on site was amazing. It has always been a very relaxing and friendly work environment, lots of friendly people to chat to and always very supportive.
What sparked your passion for DET and what inspired you to become a teacher?
My passion for DET is as old as I am. I grew up in a very practical household and I was encouraged and allowed to develop my skills. I suppose it started by being allowed to take things apart to see how they worked. I was always tinkering to 'make things different and better' often reusing bits I found and repurposed them into 'something useful'.
Which area of DET do you like best?
I really like the designing stage, the tweaking to make better, being able to try and figure out a solution. Spending time on the tiny details that almost pass unnoticed to make the finished product as perfect as I can. When I put the lights in my bathroom I had to make sure the shadows fell equally round the furniture and lit everything evenly but this detail goes unnoticed. You often only notice bad design, as truly good design seems effortless.
Can you give us some examples of engineering or design which inspire you most?
Design that inspires me the most would be items such as well made furniture using interesting techniques, I really like steam bent hardwoods. It is amazing to see the properties of timber used in different ways.
What do you love most about being part of the CCF team?
CCF is different from 'normal lessons' and the commitment the cadets put in is also different. You often see them push themselves harder or in areas you wouldn't expect. They can often show real resilience as this is what is expected at greater levels. The CCF 'team' also has a different level of commitment, they seem to draw on a wider expectation knowing it is part of the MOD and it seems to make people 'step up to the plate'.
What do you like you do in your spare time?
Having two children (10 and 4) my spare time is often spent around them and also trying to be useful around the house, as well as taking the border collie for yet another walk seems to absorb much of my free time. But, when I do have some spare time, I am often planning the next thing I want to make. I seem to have far too many projects on the go. These projects range from making a new bracket unit to hold the games controllers to planning what a house would look like (if I had some land to build one).
What are you looking forward to most when lockdown restrictions are lifted?
Before Covid we used to visit my mum in Brighton almost twice a month, but it has been a year since we all went down, it would be nice to get back to the sea and walk along Brighton seafront. We don't eat out much but we would love to have a meal out somewhere different.
What does the future hold for Mr Bayley?
I would love to reuse/fix items that have been disposed of and turn them into something new or different. When I was a teenager I often used to use car engine parts to make items such as candle holders, or interesting furniture made from discarded cut offs. I would like to set up a business that turns wooden items that have been discarded into new repurposed items or even just save it going to landfill and allow people to buy it at reduced prices. It would be great to combine this with a repair cafe/maker space where individuals can use tools and get advice to fix their own items. I have volunteered for wood recycling enterprises and I think they provide a great service. I think we can make better use of the things we already have rather than throwing out and replacing.
