Posts by: Alison
How Many Wives?
W.P Matthew appeared on Woman’s hour on 11 May 1950 with Barry Bucknell. They were discussing whether men should have more than one wife. This ‘humourous’ exchange brought together Barry Bucknell, who was better known for speaking on women’s matters and the DIY man introduced as W.P Matthews. I... Learn moreThe Unsung Rung
Most people think of Barry Bucknell if they remember DIY demonstrated on TV in the 1950s. Barry was a legend of live TV and the designer of the brilliant ‘Mirror’ dinghy. He also ran a building company with his father and had apprenticed at Daimler. But it was a... Learn moreGetting Lost in Time
I loved this photo of the Carpentry class in Kilburn Lane Higher grade school from the early twentieth century. Of course, the gruff teachers with handsome moustaches and old fashioned block planes caught my eye, but it was part of the caption that stayed in my mind. The last... Learn moreFirst Look at Basket Making
Our second studio was strewn with long rushes on Saturday Morning, as expert and passionate tutor, Claire Murphy laid out everything we would need to begin making an elegant bread basket. The room smelt of a country walk and as the rush was misted to keep its moist pliability,... Learn moreSmall but perfectly formed
Ninety years ago a small fixing problem in the British Museum is said to have led to founding of the Rawlplug Company Limited – the world first fixing company. The Museum needed electrical fittings fixed to walls unobtrusively and without causing damage to the masonry. This was difficult using... Learn moreGreen wood peace
David Barker is going to teach a green wood workshop at The Goodlife Centre in July. He has shared with me a photo of a table made by his friend Alun Heslop and will bring the country into the city so that students can use the natural curves of tree limbs,... Learn moreSomething tangible
We are always interested in why people are attracted to our workshops. A high flying business man at our current set of workshops to ‘Make a wood stool‘ summed it up ‘ Success in my job is intangible- i want to learn to make something tangible’. So, tomorrow we meet again, to see the... Learn moreNews or filla?
Lets hear it for Polyfilla. In 1953, a Czech chemist working in England, invented the first DIY water-soluble wallpaper paste – Polycell. He set up the ‘Polycell’ company in London and the following year (1954) developed Polyfilla, the first cellulose-based plaster and wood filler. Until then, fillers for cracks... Learn moreThe wettest drought?
It all started with a rush of optimism and we all put our garden furniture out during the warm spell last month. Now its pelting down and the tables and chairs are taking a beating. More than many other trivial pursuits in the garden, time spent making sure that all wood... Learn moreBank Holiday Super Saver
One of those private moments that end in a sinking feeling. The loo flushes but instead of emptying, the water rises in an alarming way. The Natural Law of of DIY is that this usually happens on that plumber call out fee -‘ triple Word score’ price hike of... Learn more
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