What's new?

Primary excavator

18th November 2011

Huntsmans have invested over £400000 in a new primary excavator as part of our ongoing commitment to investing in the business despite the extremely difficult trading conditions being experienced at the time. The new machine with state of the art technology designed to give maximum efficiency will bring greater flexibility to the companies loading and excavation operations and assist greatly in a higher % recovery of suitable building and walling stone.

Fund raising campaign

16th November 2011

Huntsmans quarry has been used to create a backdrop photo for a charity campaning to raise funds for blinded exservice men and women.

Co-ordinated by Cheltenham based design agency “tda” who have prepared a mailshot package they used the backdrop shot of the quarry to help re create a scene from a war zone in Afganistan.

Further details about the fund raising campaign can be found at www.st-dunstans.org.uk

Breaking and entry

11th October 2011

To save wheelbarrowing loads of concrete for a building refurbishment at Katherine and Michael Rightons farm at Dorn. A window frame was removed and the concrete delivered direct through the window.

Huntsmans help promote high skill rural crafts

26th September 2011

Following a successful application to the Ernest Cook Trust by the Board, a new course has been launched to help address the current shortfall in advanced dry-stone walling skills in the Cotswolds.

The £10,000 grant award has enabled the Board to establish a new 22-week course to train up wallers in the skills and techniques required to achieve the Lantra Level 3 qualification, which is essential for those wishing to go on to gain the Master Craftsman certificate. The Board discovered that these advanced skills are only taught in one other place - the Peak District - and therefore difficult for wallers in and around the Cotswolds who want to develop their skills further.

During the course, held at Huntsman's Quarry, wallers will learn to deal with the range of situations that they can often encounter, including curved walls, walls on sloping ground, high or retaining walls and ‘lunkies’ which are holes in the wall designed for animals to pass through. These are all aspects of the skill critically important to the conservation of the Cotswolds landscape and the special features that add local character as well as the continuing development of the profession.

For further details, contact rural skills officer, David Molloy.

BBC Oxford Visit Huntsmans Quarries

20th August 2011

Huntsmans featured on the BBC Oxford news programme on the 19th August, as part of a feature on 45th anniversary of Cotswolds Conservation Board.

www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk

Huntsmans were hosting the high level "Lantra 3" Stone Walling course organised by the Conservation Board as part of their programme to support rural crafts.

Huntsmans Dry Stone Walling Course

18th August 2011

Huntsmans hosted another drystone walling course in partnership with the Cotswold Conservation Board on the 6 & 7 August. Some ten students from a wide geographic area spent the weekend under the guidance of John Hepworth

www.dry-stone-waller-hepworth.co.uk

learn the basics of this rural craft.

Naunton Cricket Club

2nd August 2011

Huntsmans Quarries present the old school bell to Naunton Cricket Club

Two long established organisations have come together to celebrate their history and close association.

Huntsmans Quarries which has been quarrying at Naunton since the beginning of last century has presented the old school bell to the cricket club.

The cricket club moved to the current ground next to the old vlliage school in the 1980’s. The land was not suitable so Huntsmans supplied plant and equipment to excavate the ground to its current shape.

Huntsmans had bought the Old School in 1969 and converted it into their office and two flats. The bell which had hung there since 1864 was removed during the conversion and lay undisturbed until found earlier this year in storage. Huntsmans sold the old school which was subsequently converted into a single residence in 2007.

Huntsmans offered the bell to the cricket club as a reminder of old times so that once again the chiming could be heard in the village.

Shown at a cricket match on Sunday 31 July is John Milner Huntsmans Chairman, presenting the bell to Will Davies Chairman of Naunton Cricket Club and Charley Hanks Naunton Cricket Club captain.

Teacher Training

16th July 2011

Huntsmans played host to a group of teachers undertaking training as part of there preparations for teaching A Level geology for the OCR Exam Board.

Nikki Edwards OCR Qualifications Manager said "The teachers were enthused and your preparations both mental and physical were much appreciated".

All the teachers made a very generous donation to the Friends of the Cotswolds in appreciation of there visit.

Construction
Recycling
Alliance

24th May 2011

As part of their commitment to recycling Huntsmans have joined the Construction Recycling Alliance. The CRA is an umbrella organisation that represents companies within the construction industry who are dedicated to reducing, reusing and recycling unwanted material. In joining the CRA each member adheres to the following pledge:

'We are committed to reducing, reusing and recycling waste material generated by our construction related operations. We pledge to maximise reuse and recycling rates wherever possible by utilising the latest methods and technologies available. We seek to comply with all guidelines and regulations relating to recycling within the construction industry and regularly review our corporate policies and procedures to ensure adherence.'

The CRA supports its members by sharing innovative recycling techniques, disseminating guidelines and regulations as well as liaising with policy makers at local, regional and national levels.

Cotswold Lion

9th May 2011

Huntsmans feature in the Spring/Summer edition of the Cotswold Lion. The new leaflet of the Cotswold conservation Board. The article marked the 45th anniversary of the AONB and featured people and businesses that are the lifeblood of the area.

View the full article here

Recycling Plant

6th May 2011

Huntsmans have just commissioned a new state of the art recycling and washing plant facility for construction and demolition waste.

The plant will compliment the exisiting dryscreening and crushing operation that has been active for the past six years providing a valuable service to the North Cotswolds and surrounding area.

It will enable Huntsmans to process more of the smaller fractions that otherwise may have gone to landfill. It will enbale us to take our recovery rate to in excess of 75%.

The plant is unique in the locality and uses minimal water and a belt press to recover the superfines. The plant will now mean Huntsmans can offer a full spectrum of washed recycled aggregates and uniquely washed recycled coarse and fine sands.

Retirement

4th May 2011

After 25 years Mick Bayliss hung up his “loading shovel keys” for the last time when he retired at Easter 2011 at the age of 68.

Mick started work in 1985 for Huntsmans at Whitemans Hill and Perton Quarries in Herefordshire and transferred to the main Buckle Street Quarry when those operations closed. Michael was a fan of the Volvo loading shovels, which he drove for us for most of those years and kept in such pristine condition it was said you could eat your lunch off the cab floor. So on his retirement company Chairman John Milner presented Michael with a model Volvo shovel mounted on a piece of Huntsmans stone together with a card and cheque from the company and all his collegues.

The company thank Michael for his excellent and dedicated service and wish him and his wife, Janet, a long and happy retirement.

New Lorry

14th April 2011

Huntsmans have taken the plunge and invested in the future despite the ravages of the recession by purchasing a new Volvo FM13 tipper. The engine has the latest management systems on it to ensure maximum fuel efficiency and is an integral part of keeping our fleet up to date. The tipping body was built by Swadlincote Aluminium, Swadlincote near Derby

Filming in your Quarry

6th March 2011

Huntsmans played host in February to Concerca, a film company contracted by publisher Nelson Thornes, to produce a next years AQA GCSE Science video about limestone to be shown to all students studying science.

Dry Silo Motar

19th Feb 2011

Dry silo mortar arrives at Huntsmans. From mid February customers can now get ready mixed dry silo mortar, in handy tubs. An excellent colour consistant durable mortar without the hassle of mixing.

See our products section or call for details.

Graham Returns

11th Feb 2011

Great news Graham Hall has just returned to work after an absence of nearly four years fighting a rare form of cancer in the face and jaw. Graham has had his whole face reconstructed from parts of his shoulder and has never given up on his determination that he was going to return to the work he loves, driving lorries. He had a brief spell back with us after two years but his health did not allow him to drive HGV's. However complications set in and he was off for another long period of treatment and operations.

Fantastically he is now fit and well with the cancer in remission and is delighted to be back driving for Huntsmans. Graham has a special thanks for the surgical teams at Royal Gloucester infirmary and St Bart's, London and his wife Lin who has supported him through the ordeal and his colleagues at Huntsmans who have kept his "driving seat warm"