A SELF-employed stone mason and artist from Trowbridge has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship and will be jetting off to Italy to study building preservation.

Jeremy Hobbs, 47, from Holt, has been awarded £5,500 for the six-week trip where he will learn new skills which he will bring back to his trade.

Mr Hobbs hopes to set off on the trip in the late spring and will be heading to Florence where he will meet experts in the field and will be taught methods of preservation which can be applied to churches, cathedrals and war memorials.

Mr Hobbs said: “I heard about the Churchill Fellowship a while ago and always thought I would like to apply.

“It provides a great opportunity for me to be supported financially while I take the trip.

“Now is the right time for me and I feel I deserve it after years of working in the field, and this is the right time in my career.

“It’s like going back to college almost. I will be enhancing my skills.

“I am very much looking forward to it and bringing back more skills which I can put into practice right away in my business.”

To apply for the fellowship, Mr Hobbs had to write up his plans in detail and explain how his trip will benefit trade back in Trowbridge.

He was among 150 people from all regions of the UK who were selected this year from almost 1,800 applicants.

He said: “I was thrilled to be accepted for the fellowship. So many people apply and to be chosen is amazing.”

Julia Weston, chief executive of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, said: “Churchill Fellows are inspiring individuals who scour the world for fresh approaches to today’s crucial issues.

“It’s a unique chance to make change happen.”

Churchill Fellowships were set up on the death of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 as a national tribute and living legacy for his leadership. Since then over 5,600 have been awarded.

The aim of the scheme is to explore global best practice in the issues facing Britain today, and bring back global insights to improve communities and professions.

The next chance to apply for a Churchill Fellowship opens on May 16 and includes new categories on palliative and end-of-life care and physical activity. Application details are online at wcmt.org.uk.