As a child I LOVED whittling wood with a pen-knife. Using it as a LEVER, I BROKE the blade then sharpened the end. When hammering it, the blade would fold and cut my hand. So, next Christmas I was given a chisel. At eleven, I REMEMBER visiting a furniture MAKER and was hugely impressed by the quality of his work. That stayed with me through my teenage years whilst I was heading for a career in the Church. In my last year at school, my father died and this prompted me to reassess my future. The search then began to find a workshop training.

As a child I loved whittling wood with a pen-knife. Using it as a lever, I broke the blade then sharpened the end. When hammering it, the blade would fold and cut my hand. So, next Christmas I was given a chisel. At eleven, I remember visiting a furniture maker and was hugely impressed by the quality of his work. That stayed with me through my teenage years whilst I was heading for a career in the Church. In my last year at school, my father died and this prompted me to reassess my future. The search then began to find a workshop training.