We are saddened to hear of the passing of Donal Oldfield, a founding member of Derwent Training.
Don began his career in 1955 as a 15-year-old apprentice engineer at Sheppee Ltd on James Street, a company specializing in high-speed glass container machinery. He later founded DA Oldfield in Dunnington, York before it relocated to Elvington, supplying and servicing hot end forming and ware handling equipment in the worldwide glass bottle making industry.
As an ex-apprentice himself, Don, along with others, set up North Yorkshire Training Services in 1988. It later changed its name to Derwent Training Association. He served on the Board from 1991-1992. Several DA Oldfield staff members are Derwent Training alumni.
His son, Garry, said
“Don never forgot the value of his early training. He oversaw the graduation of three apprentices a year into the Sheppee workforce, while sponsoring three new recruits through their first year of off-the-job training at Vickers Instruments. When Vickers closed—threatening the loss of the training center—Don took action. Working with York Council and mobilizing other major local employers like Bootham Engineers, Terry’s, Rowntree’s, and Adams Hydraulics, he helped establish a new training hub. The group secured a building in Malton and donated machinery to furnish the workshops. Today, this legacy lives on as the Derwent Training facility, which continues to launch apprentice careers in the region.”
Claire Gavaghan, CEO, Derwent Training reflected on Don’s contribution to skills training in the region “Without his involvement and his foresight Derwent Training would not exist. He desire to build a legacy for others through training, in a rural area, for the good of future generations is a testament to his beliefs and values. His legacy continues each day in the work we do.”
