Teenager with autism is college apprentice of year

A TEENAGE agricultural apprentice who has autism has won an award.

James Preston, 19, from Checkendon was honoured for his hard work and dedication to his job at Red Kite Farms in Southend.

He was named apprentice of the year by Berkshire College of Agriculture at Burchetts Green, where he studied after leaving school at the age of 14.

James, who lives with his parents, Andy and Tina, was about
15 months old when he suffered a bout of encephalitis, a type of brain inflammation.

He was later diagnosed with autism and Tourette’s syndrome, a neurological condition that causes involuntary movements, which may have resulted from his earlier illness.

James attended Trinity Primary School and Gillotts School in Henley but struggled in mainstream education so he moved to BCA, where he thrived. His parents say they are so proud of his award win, especially after all his struggles.

Mr Preston said: “At 15 months old he had encephalitis and the hospital told us to prepare for the worst. My wife and I thought it was the end.

“James pulled through but he had to learn how to walk again and then when he was about four or five we found out that he was deaf in one ear as a result of his illness.

“Later again, we found out that he also had autism and Tourette’s.

“Primary school was okay but when he went to Gillotts he was written off.

“When he was 14 we took him out of school and he went to the agricultural college on the schools programme, which is for children who struggle in mainstream education.

“James wanted to get into farming so he started on a farming course and then got work experience at Red Kite Farms.

“They offered him an apprenticeship after his work experience.

“He works really hard. Nothing puts him off and if anything, this has made him stronger.

“As his parents, we are so proud at what James has achieved.

“He was coming to the end of the first year of his apprenticeship when the award came. It’s because he has worked so hard to get to this stage.

“It’s amazing really -— to go from school writing him off to winning an award is incredible.

“He works with sheep, does the lambing and cares for them.”

James, whose brother Drew, 22, is also in farming, recently passed his tractor licence and is now working on his telehandler licence.

He said: “I started doing agriculture at college in September 2021 and did some work on a farm near me for nothing to get experience.

“After a few months of working there they offered me an apprenticeship at BCA to be an apprentice farmer.”

He added: “I was not expecting the award. I got the email so I messaged my teacher at college saying I’d just won an award.

“I was confused at first but pleased. It is great to win the award.”