In the middle of a busy week, I received a call from the MOD, which was somewhat of a surprise. Could they book a private workshop for a small group of ex homeless service veterans to make something amazing with wood at the centre? Oh and it needed to be something they could make in a day and present to someone special as a tribute. And could it take place in 7 days time please? No pressure then.
War veterans in our workshop? Abso-bloomin’-lutely.
After a bit more investigation it turned out that some of the vets had a little know-how of working with wood, so we needed something that was going to be interesting for all levels of experience, but that could be managed as a team. In a day.
We decided to adapt David Barker’s wonderful Make a Meditation Stool project into something more ambitious. Make a Bench.
It’s no small feat to undertake such a project in one day but David and Scott Stannard, who were to lead the workshop were unfazed by the challenge and set about sourcing the materials needed. As with everything on this project, not only was the planning time short, but most available timber yards were covered in snow and cut off. Luckily, David Barker was resourceful enough to select some handsome oak planks and stout lengths of local hornbeam that he brought with him from Kent.
We suspected that our guests were going to be made of stern stuff and we weren’t wrong.
Once they arrived yesterday morning everyone contributed to the design process and it took them no time at all to get stuck in to their tasks of turning the hornbeam into handsome legs and smoothing the oak planks under the watchful eye of David and Scott. And when they didn’t have a drawknife or hand plane in hand they reached for the broom and kept our workshop spotless – or kept the kettle boiling for tea.
It’s a testament to the professionalism, teamwork and discipline of these military trained men that in just one day they have produced such a beautifully crafted bench. It clearly meant a lot to them to work on this project and it showed. I think the pictures speak for themselves.
The bench is to be presented to Pat O’Connor MBE. Pat has been getting up at 4.30am everyday for many years to run the hostel in the East end of London where these vets currently live. They call her ‘Mumsy’ and the bench is a gift of thanks to her.
What a wonderful tribute by some incredible people to a very special person. We were thrilled to be a part of it.
That’s just a bit of sawdust in my eye, honest.
