A former Coleg Ceredigion joinery student whose innovative designs caught the attention of a leading Channel 4 television series revisited the college recently to give a presentation to students.

Carwyn Lloyd Jones, of Timber Design Wales based in Bow Street near Aberystwyth, was invited to give a presentation on his innovative designs to students studying Joinery and Furniture Design, Making and Restoration courses at the Cardigan Campus.

Carwyn, a former member of staff at the Centre for Alternative Technology near MachynlLeth, gave students a compelling insight to reusing material such as old pallets and various other material to create radical designs. He recently featured on the hit Channel 4 show, George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, with a quirky caravan created from an old caravan trailer chassis upcycled with reclaimed material.

Carwyn, whose eldest son is currently studying at Coleg Ceredigion’s Aberystwyth campus, explained that he created the caravan in order to give his family a holiday. Spending only £120 on ebay for the trailer and an additional £700 on materials, he created an impressive luxury caravan with innovative design features. The ingenious caravan features a floor created from old vinyl records and an outer fish scale-like skin of old CDs. It is equipped with a functioning kitchen, pull-out sleeping areas and a retractable composting toilet and also features sinks built from old copper cylinders, a beer pump for a tap and a front door made from recycled plastic bottles.

Carwyn commented: “It was great to be invited back to my old college, the campus has grown considerably since my days there as a student, and the facilities look very impressive. I enjoyed the opportunity to give students an insight into my work and business. I hope that they have learnt that the possibilities of working with wood are endless and that it’s important to have fun in your work.

Huw Thomas, Curriculum Manager at Coleg Ceredigion Cardigan, noted: “Carwyn’s presentation was truly inspiring, and a real eye-opener for our students. It was particularly gratifying to see a former student go on to feature his work on a major television programme; a fantastic achievement.”

The presentation was supported by Big Ideas Wales, a scheme funded by the Welsh Government to support the next generation of young entrepreneurs in Wales.