SKILLED motor mechanic Joe Preddy knew‘ the writing was on the wall’ when he decided on a change of career because he started building them! writes Nigel Heath.

Joe, 28, who lives in Monmouth, gained a distinction in engineering at the John Kyrle High School in Ross and went on to work as a motor mechanic with Renault and later switched to Volkswagen and Audi in Hereford.

“But after a few years I got fed up with spending all my time in workshops and just wanted to be out in the fresh air,” he explained.

Luckily family members were already working in the building trade, so the transition was easy and it was while working with a local firm that his wall building skills came to the fore.

Now he has launched his own small business JH Stonemasonary and after recently completing an eye catching skilled wall in nearby Mitchel Troy he will soon be off to begin a much bigger project in the Abergavenny area,

But all Joe’s walls will have one unique touch because every one will include a small metal time capsule containing a £1 coin and an explanatory letter so leaving his mark for future generations.

While professional wall construction takes time because each stone has to be carefully chosen, Joe reverts to the fast lane in his spare time by going for a spin on one of his four sport bikes!

The time capsule tin and note
(NIgel Heath)