Lobsang Griffiths Golha came to England from Tibet and gained the City & Guilds/ Carpenters’ Company Fine Woodworking Diploma from the Building Crafts College, Stratford, London in July 2004. He is now self-employed as a carpenter.

“I first got excited about working with wood as a young boy in Tibet. My parents got permission to build a house and I helped by cutting the timbers in the forest, all hand-sawn. I learned how to mark-up all the timbers for the house.

“I came to England having met my English wife in India. I worked hard in kitchens but did not enjoy it. I thought back to my love of working with wood and decided I should develop my skills. I gained a place at the Building Crafts College with funding from the Livery Scholarship Scheme. I still needed to work evenings in kitchens to earn a living but the two years went very quickly and I never felt tired at the college as I enjoyed it so much.

“Since qualifying I have worked on many different projects. I did all the joinery for a private house: 5 sash-box windows, a small casement window, a large bay window, front door and French doors. I also restored a floor at the Horse & Groom in Hampstead which was being converted to a Sushi restaurant and laid decking of treated softwood outside. My favourite piece is a huge desk with a platform for a computer with the keyboard stored underneath and bookshelves with cupboards in the alcoves; all in steamed beech with some marquetry.

“I would definitely recommend carpentry and joinery to other people because it’s such enjoyable work when you make something, you see it and it makes you pleased. But you have to like working with your hands.”