East Devon plumber needs your help!

24-year old Mark Wakely, a Honiton plumber employed at Fords in Sidmouth, has beaten hundreds of other plumbers from across the UK to make it through to the final 15 in the 2016 UK Plumber of the Year competition.

It’s now up to the public to decide the final five and Mark is asking the local community to support him with their votes. Last year a Cambridgeshire plumber won. It would be great to make it a Devon win this year!

Now in its second year the JT, Bristan and Plumb Center UK Plumber of the Year competition celebrates plumbing and rewards Britain’s finest plumbers.

Mark was shortlisted for his work on the restoration of The Landmark Trust’s property, Belmont House, in Lyme Regis. He installed a modern heating system in this historic grade II listed building. It was a complex project due to the confined working space and constraints of a listed building, which required high attention to detail so as not to damage the fabric of the building. The judges praised Mark’s high standard of workmanship, which contributed to a RICS Award for Conservation in the South West

Mark comments: “It was a privilege to work on the Belmont House restoration. It’s not often that plumbers have the opportunity to work on such an interesting and complex project. It’s the icing on the cake to have reached the final 15 in this competition on the back of that.”

“Now I’m through to the final 15 it would be fantastic to make it to the final five. I feel awkward asking the public but please vote for me! Not only would it be good for me but it would help raise the profile of the amazing work of The Landmark Trust.”

The five plumbers with the most votes will make it through to the final stage of the competition. Voting is now open and will close on Sunday 14 August 2016.

To vote for Mark please visit www.ukplumberoftheyear.com