I have always liked having ‘something to do’ and remember making things from wood from quite an early age. Circumstances changed and the idea of making things took a back seat. Home took up a lot of my spare time but I still enjoyed having a ‘project’.
In 2004 we went to Kenya for a safari holiday and had to pair up with friends to board the buses. A gentleman turned to my wife and said ‘Shall we be friends?’ and so started our friendship with Eric and Elizabeth. During the evenings we talked to each other and Eric told me of his interest in making walking sticks; I became interested and started asking questions. By the end of the week I thought I might have a go and started thinking about how I might do this.
In the meantime Debra spoke to Eric and together they planned that we would visit Eric and Elizabeth in the Lake District. They also secretly arranged that we would visit Eric’s friend, Brian Bannister1, in Dent and I would learn first-hand how to make walking sticks.
It was a great day and I came away with my first, hand-made, shepherds crook!
At the time of writing Brian is still running courses from his home in Dent. See his website for details.
Eric and I on our stall at Lichfield Medieval Market July 2007
Eric and I will be back on our stall on July 5th 2008