Horticulture student and supported intern Oliver took to the stage at the weekend, spinning tunes as ‘DJ Ollie’ at Alderfest, held at Alderford Lake, near Whitchurch.
Oliver, who is 19 and attends our Walford campus, near Shrewsbury, wowed the crowd with his DJ set at the family-friendly festival on Friday. His big stage debut marks an exciting milestone in a personal journey that has seen him grow in skills and confidence – both as a horticulture intern and a budding DJ.
Oliver first joined Derwen College in 2022, choosing the Walford campus for its small, supportive environment and its focus on horticulture. His goal was clear from the start: to build a career working outdoors, and machinery.
“I wanted to come to Derwen because it does gardening, and I wanted to learn how to use the machines,” says Oliver. “It took me about a week to settle in. Once I got to know everyone, it was great.”
Now, two years on, he’s thriving on the College’s supported internship programme, gaining valuable work experience at sites including Shrewsbury Crematorium, Whittington Castle, Cambrian Heritage Railways, and Alderford Lake.
With a love of music and performance, Ollie’s been building his DJ skills by playing at student parties and College events. Staff at Alderford Lake were so impressed that they invited him to perform on stage at this year’s Alderfest
Of his star performance, Ollie said: “I really enjoyed opening Alderfest festival together with brothers and DJs AJ and Curtis (famous for Love Island). The stage was very big, bigger than I thought it would be. I was a bit nervous when I stepped out onto the stage and saw so many people. The sound was awesome, the lights were amazing and the smoke machines were even better. They gave me a microphone and I get less nervous each track that I played. I loved it! I liked watching all the other acts, too!”
DJ Ollie’s next big gig is at the Derwen College Prom on 11 July, and we can’t wait!