I got my first taste of wood-turning and carving in a semester’s elective in high school in Hawaii in the late 50’s. When I sold Vinnies in Raglan about 15 years ago, I suddenly found I had a lot more free time and one day when I was out catering a party in Te Rapa, I happened to drive past the clubrooms on the day you had your annual sale day, so I stopped by.

That was about 9 years ago. I joined a Wednesday morning class with great relish and proceeded to turn bowls of all shapes and sizes, although I soon found that I preferred to create larger more practical and user-friendly objects. I have two lathes, one a purposed built bowl lathe that can turn bowls up to 900mm.  

About 9 months ago my daughter who was expecting our first grand child asked me to make a wooden bath, “…and no Dad, not a large wooden bowl, thank you!” So the search begin for the right wood, a large Totara tree. After much searching we found one that had come down near Grant Taylor’s home/farm in Gordonton. So the task began and I learned how to carve with a chain saw and angle grinder.

I’m also getting into other large objets d’arts like designer large wooden trays, sinks and coat and hat racks made of polished kanuka branches and turned heavy wooden bases.

So a new chapter in my life has begun at the age of 76.