Gerard is an internationally acclaimed and highly respected historic brickwork consultant, master bricklayer, educator and author. Gerard left school with little or no qualifications but had the natural ability and determination to complete an apprenticeship to become a skilled Brickmason. After completing his five year apprenticeship and working in the industry, Gerard went on to first teach and then managed Trowel Trades at Bedford Technical College in England. This would have been enough for most master craftsperson but Gerard went on to gained many awards, including the Silver and Gold Trowels from the Brick Development as well as gaining his Licentiate of the City in Brickwork. During his time training and teaching apprentices, Gerard pioneered the revival of gauged brickwork, in which he is know considered to be one of the world's leading authority. Becoming disillusioned in the early 1990’s due mainly to the break up of the craft by the modern construction industry awards body, Gerard took the decision to set up a private consultancy and teaching practice in Historic Brickwork in 1992. Since that important date Gerard has gain world wide recognition as leading trainer and consultant in Historic brickwork Techniques. He continued his quest for life long learning by being awarded the 'Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship' to study in the Netherlands and Belgium and the Viscount De L'Isle Award for in 1997 and in 1999 he was awarded an MA in 'Conservation of Historic Brickwork by De Montfort University, Leicester, and was awarded a Doctorate in 'Historic Brickwork Technology'. Dr Gerard Lynch moved into wider international areas, working in Europe and in the USA, and working as a consultant on many historic structures and lately was involved in training and consultancy of the rebuilding of St Mary's Church, Historic St Mary's, Maryland, USA. ‘The Red Mason’ as Gerard is affectionately known in the US, has given lectures and demonstrations at the American Lime Conference, the International Preservation Trades Workshops' (IPTW) as well as key note speeches at many preservation conferences throughout the world. In closing, there are many honours’ that Gerard has won that I have not mentioned but I would be here all night, Gerard is well respected by his peers for never forgetting his craft back ground or where he came from and indeed can jaw at any level from Craft to Academic. Gerard has already made a substantial contribution towards the understanding, application, repair and conservation of historic brickwork, through his books and teachings.

Nomination statement by John Laing AAA, IMBM, Cert Ed, FWCP