We were delighted to see an ex-Heathfield student featured in the Christmas edition of Countryfile over the holiday. Miles Hobden left Heathfield in 2013 but was featured as a student and resident at the prestigious royal Highgrove estate showcasing the skills he has acquired over his years of study, which started at College.
After finishing secondary school, Miles pursued a qualification in Mechanical Engineering. This led him to work as a steel fabricator and welder for six years. However, his passion for working with wood and making furniture, which he states began during his time at Heathfield Community College, inspired him to change direction.
He decided to study 3D Design and Craft at the University of Brighton, where he developed a strong interest in reinstating value into undervalued materials through craftsmanship. His final projects explored the use of coppiced timber and construction waste, transforming these disregarded materials into furniture pieces.
Last summer, he joined friends from his course to organise Made to Matter, an exhibition at London’s OXO Bargehouse. The show garnered significant interest from the design industry, leading to an exciting opportunity: the Kings Foundation invited him to partake in a fully funded residency to further develop his craft and refine his furniture-making skills. This programme, now in its third year, brought the chance to learn from some of the country’s most skilled makers.
The residency attracted attention from the BBC Countryfile team, who featured the students in their Christmas special at Highgrove, where Miles currently resides. During this time, they were honoured to create Christmas decorations for His Majesty the King, which were highlighted on the programme.
For staff who know and remember Miles they will be delighted that he will be coming into College to talk to some of our 6th form DT students about his experiences; the even better news is that he starts a PGCE in Design Technology later this year and staff are clear that Miles will make a great teacher.