Natural stone industry doyen John Bysouth has become the first winner of The Duke of Gloucester Gold Medal, introduced this year to mark 'outstanding lifetime achievement in stonemasonry.'

The Award was presented to John by HRH The Duke of Gloucester during a presentation dinner in London last week.

This new Award will be made every three years and the recipient will be chosen by a panel of judges including representatives from within Stone Federation and The Worshipful Company of Masons, and chaired by HRH The Duke of Gloucestershire.
 
Born in 1937, John began his career in stone as an apprentice at the age of 17 after gaining a National Certificate of Building at Tottenham Technical College in London.

He worked for Dove Brothers in Islington before joining his father in the family firm of J.By outh Ltd in 1958, becoming head of the firm when his father died.
 

John worked on many prestigious projects including the Houses of Parliament, St.James's Palace, Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, plus the completion of Guildford Cathedral and Brentwood Catholic Cathedral.

In 1994 he became a Stone Consultant and Technical Adviser to Stone Federation, answering questions on a diverse range of subjects to the satisfaction of those who had a problem to solve.

He has been President of the London Association of Master Stonemasons, President of the London Region of the Building Employers Federation and Master of the Worshipful Company of Masons.

In 1999 he was elected President of Stone Federation Great Britain and in recognition of his work for the industry was made a lifetime Honorary Member of the Federation.

Currently he is a member of its Technical Committee and Chairman of the Membership and Subscription Working Party. Despite this busy life he still found time to develop and chair the Use of Stone Building Course for many years and give many CPD presentations on choosing and using stone.

He has written several technical documents including the new data sheet on the Correct Fixing of Fireplaces and has assisted in the formation of NVQ's for Stonemasonry.

Passionate about training, John acts as a judge at competitions for young masons and has seen many of his own firm's apprentices go on to success themselves.

Married for more than fifty years to Shelagh, they have three children and eleven grandchildren.

"I was absolutely stunned" he said after receiving the award. "I had no idea I had won until it was announced. The Duke of Gloucester spoke and then invited me to say a few words but when I got to the lectern I was so overcome I couldn't say anything and had to sit down. I was so choked up.

"The Federation went to so much subterfuge to keep it from me. Alex Stables, The President at the time, had invited Shelagh to be his guest and said it was to keep his own wife company, but Shelagh had no idea about the award either.

"Originally I wasn't on the main table but that was part of the secrecy. After the award was presented they then moved me onto the same table as the Duke. Those are the lengths they went to in order to keep me from finding out in advance.

"I hoped I might be in with a chance but I can honestly say I had no idea I had won before the announcement. There were other people who could just as easily have won the honour. I still can't take it in."

Stone Federation Chief Executive Jane Buxey said "There were some very strong candidates but I am sure that all in the industry agree with John being made the winner of the inaugural award. He has made an outstanding contribution to the industry throughout his lifetime and continues to do so."