Featured student of the month - Alastair Bourne

Posted 1 July 2011

A monthly special featuring a current student from Harper Adams.

20-year-old Harper Adams student, Alastair Bourne, is making the most of his links with industry and hopes to eventually set up his own machinery dealership.

Alastair from Norbury, Ashbourne, is studying for a BSc (Hons) Agricultural Engineering with Marketing and Management degree and is about to embark on his placement year at digger manufacturer JCB in Rocester.

He has taken an active interest in farming since he was 12 years old, completed his Duke of Edinburgh Award, is a member of Ashbourne Young Farmers Club and enjoys taking part in local match ploughing competitions.

Since coming to the University College in Shropshire, he has worked as a student ambassador and received the coveted JCB and Lord Stafford scholarships.

Alastair, who is a member of the Harper Adams 4x4 Club, said: “It was the quality teaching, good facilities and industry contacts that first attracted me to Harper Adams. I had my heart set on the place.

“It’s lived up to expectation; time goes so quickly because I’m enjoying it all.

“Aside from Harper, I’ve also been gaining on-farm experience. I was lambing in Wales this Easter, arable farming in Hampshire last summer and have undertaken various contracting and dairy farming jobs.”

To say thank you for the support he has received from his scholarships so far, Alastair volunteered to take part in the Harper Adams Telethon – calling former students to help raise funds.

He added: “I volunteered to do the telethon because I wanted to give something back.
“If opportunities do come up at uni, take them because the more you put in, the more you get out.

“My advice for young people considering engineering is to look at the courses at Harper Adams. I have met people from all over the country and hope they will become friends for life.

“I’d like to think that in the future I’ll work as a product specialist or manager, or even start my own dealership working with contractors.”