If you have been watching Monty Don’s series of Mastercrafts programmes on BBC2 you might be interested in a book that has been brought out in conjunction with it, also called Mastercrafts*. There is a special offer price of £10, including free postage and packaging (UK only) for NSS readers. Just quote reference RS2158.

For the programme on stonemasonry (others cover topics such as thatching, woodcrafts and blacksmithing) the makers went to Andy Oldfield, the self-employed Head Mason at Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, an imposing stone Tudor mansion constructed for ‘Bess of Hardwick’.

For the programme, Andy was asked to show two youngsters the ropes. During seven weeks’ filming they made corbels – and one of them did such a good job that his has been used on the Hall – and sundials and worked on a church tower.

Andy, who was a laser engineer before making a career change aged 30 and training as a mason, says: “It was a bit tiring because we did long days – I’m a bit of a task master and they had to do things again and again until they got them right.

“It was very good fun. We grew fat on all the food from the TV company.”

The two lads have now gone to the Building Crafts College in London to continue learning stonemasonry and Andy, who is 39, has left Hardwick. He would like to make more television programmes and has put an idea forward to the crew who he worked with on Mastercrafts. He is also just finishing a book on sculpting.

*Mastercrafts (ISBN 978-0-7153-3643-4) by Tom Quinn is published by David & Charles, Newton Abbot, Devon. It is hardback, 256 pages, price £20 but £10 (inc P&P in the UK) to NSS readers. To order Tel: 0844 880 5851 or buy on-line at the address below. Quote the code RS2158. Offer closes 1 June 2010.