Nikki Darlington

Rural Skills and Food Centre Coordinator

Nikki has worked at the College since 2005 Coordinating the Rural Skills and Food Centres.

James Foster

Training Manager

James is responsible for organising training programmes and ensures the Rural Skills Centre runs smoothly. He originally trained as an Agricultural Engineer and has spent most of his working life in the Agricultural Machinery Supply industry, as well as a period in Agricultural Contracting.  He also helps out with training programmes such as Tractor Driving and Maintenance.

Tom Overbury

Principal Lecturer in Farm Mechanisation

Tom specialises in Machinery Management and Pesticide Application. He runs the BASIS Crop Protection Certificate, PA1 & PA6 courses and is also Programme Manager of the Foundation Degree in Agriculture and Farm Management.

Nicholai Thomasin-Foster

Lecturer in Farm Mechanisation

Nicholai is an ex-student of The Royal Agricultural College and is now a Lecturer at the College. He carries out training on Tractors/Forklift Operation, Pesticides Application PA2 (Ground Crop Sprayer) and PA4 (Granule Application) for the Rural Skills Centre.

Peter Hoey

Peter Hoey, of Fieldfare Training, comes from a farming background and spent over 20 years in the fertiliser business across various parts of the country.  Currently he provides training in FACTS, land spreading of wastes, NVZs, and other soil and nutrient related topics.

Jonathan Bendle

Instructor for Brush Cutters & Strimmers, Dry Stone Walling & Brick and Block work.

Jonathan has his own landscaping business ‘JE & GH Bendle’. More recently, Jonathan has undertaken training in the use of traditional lime mortars as part of a community project re-building the Brimscombe port wall.

James Bent

Dry Stone Walling Instructor

Following a degree from Newcastle University in Countryside Management, and three years working for the National Trust, James has set up and run Beechwood Countryside Services.  The business offers landscaping advice, design and construction in the Gloucestershire area.

James Gillies

Hedge Laying Instructor

James runs his own company ‘Vale Countryside Management’ and carries out Hedge Laying training from November through to March at the Skills Centre.

Mike Oakley

Instructor for Mowers, Hedge Cutters, Brush Cutters & Strimmers

Mike runs his own landscaping and garden maintenance business.  He is also a part-time lecturer, teaching NPTC courses in Mowers (Pedestrian and Ride on), Hedge Cutters, Brush Cutters and Strimmers. Mike also teaches other horticultural courses in gardening and garden design.

Tim Bendle

Assessor and Instructor for NPTC and Lantra in all Chainsaw courses.

Tim's areas of specialism are tree surgery and forestry. Over the past 17 years he has actively been involved in commercial forestry and tree surgery.  For the last 9 years he has been an assessor and instructor for NPTC and Lantra in all of the Chainsaw activities including the tree surgery units.  As well as Brush Cutters, Wood Chippers, Stump Grinders, Aerial platforms and pollarding.

Roland Heming

Lecturer in Tree Surgery

Roland has been a tree surgeon for ten years and has been teaching aspects of tree surgery and forestry for five years (assessing for two years). He has worked with the RAC and English Nature on the development of the root cutting chainsaw, and has recently worked for the Prince of Wales on his trees at Highgrove House. Roland is also a LOLER inspector. In his spare time he likes surfing, gymnastics, guns and anything with an engine.

Simon Lenton

Instructor and Assessor in Chainsaw Operation

Simon (‘Lenny’) instructs and assesses on many of our Chainsaw Operation related courses.  Lenny also runs his own Tree Surgery business ‘Hill Top Tree Surgeons’ from his home in Shaftsbury, Dorset.

Andrew Beddoes

Instructor in Pest and Vermin Control

Andrew instructs on our Pest Control Courses. He also runs his own pest control business ‘AB Pest Control’ from his home in Tirley, Gloucestershire, specialising in commercial and industrial pest control.

Roger Madge

Instructor in Plant and Machinery

Roger is our Plant and Machinery instructor. He runs his own business and during the last 30 years has owned his own transport and machines, recovered and moved machines, worked on jobs big and small with is main customer base ranging from Agricultural/Horticulture to Builders to the Construction sector.

Roger is a Lantra registered instructor assessor, NPTC assessor, Borda (British off road driving association), BST and covers training for Forklifts, Excavators, Dumpers, 4 x 4, winching, Tractors, Rollers, Loading Shovels, Skid Steers and Mowers.

Peter Tupper

Instructor in Quad Bikes, Tractors, Fencing and Shotgun Handling

Peter was educated at Dean Close in Cheltenham and then completed a two year farm management course at The Royal Agricultural College where he moved onto Farm Management in the Cotswolds. 

Peter started his own contracting business in 1995 ‘Landmark Paddock Services’ in 1995 and also purchased a Gun shop in 2002.

Chris Padfield

Insturctor in Machinery and Pesticides

Chris grew up on, and now runs, a 3 family farm in Gloucestershire.  The farm is predominately arable, though retains an interest in Beef production through a partnership with a local farmer. 

He studied Agriculture and Environmental Science at the Newcastle University followed by two years working abroad in Ghana, Guinea-Bissau and France.

After teaching at a local Agricultural college for three years, Chris has achieved a PGCE and been inspired to set up his own training company specialising in areas such as Forklifts and Pesticides.  Chris enjoys motorbikes and gardening.

Ben Prothero

Instructor in Blacksmithing

Ben Prothero did a degree in sculpture at University of the Arts London; he then went on to train and work as a Blacksmith.  He now runs his own business as an Artist Blacksmith and Sculptor in Cirencester.

He undertakes a wide variety of private and public commissions of ornamental craft metalwork and art pieces as well as carrying out the Blacksmithing and Ornamental Ironwork courses for the Rural Skills Centre.  Recently he made the new gates for the Royal Agricultural College.

Pat Bessell

Welding and Abrasive Wheels Instructor

Pat has a lifetime of experience in the welding industry and is also an experienced plant inspector.  As well as delivering Welding and Abrasive Wheels courses, Pat also helps deliver customised course to local schools and colleges covering (as well as welding) Vehicle Maintenance and Sheet Metal work.