I mentioned earlier that we had a good relationship with Rich Cutler, a joiner and cabinet maker operating in the Bovingdon area. Rich is a great provider of knowledge, coffee and off cuts. We were chatting and I said I need some oak with character. He looks at me with one of those looks; a look that says do I like you enough to share a secret…
Now, I am not saying I was blindfolded, and the car had blacked out windows, but I received this call saying to meet Rich at a certain time and a specific place. He was going to introduce me to someone, a character. Wouldn’t go into any more detail.
Picture the scene. Two acres of land covered in wood planks, bits of wood, out houses full of wood, a sawmill, a forge, several forgotten sheds and in the middle of this is a man. He is ageless. Could be 60, could be 70, could be 80. Who knows and no one was going to ask! The man is a bit of a legend. He built the sawmill, he built the forge, he built everything there! He lumbered the planks from mighty trees. He is a blacksmith, a wheelwright, a joiner, the list goes on.
After introductions I am allowed to wander about and pick up whatever bits of wood ‘take my fancy’. I return half an hour later, negotiate and hand over cash. I leave with some lovely pieces of seasoned oak covered in dirt, still showing the sawmill marks.
The wood has gone to several good uses but one of my favourites is making a number of beautiful chopping boards and serving platters. The photos show a selection. They are all finished with three coats of a food safe mineral oil. They are very tactile and will last for years. They are a joy to make and generally fly out the door. Handmade humble chopping boards – who would ever think they would become the thing we just can’t make enough of.
