My Shop in Sandwich
25 December, 2025 – 11:14 amI have had such a busy year, so many ups and so many downs, but I try and concentrate on the positive things.
I completed many interesting commissions, from my sculpture of Aloy for a house in Walmer, the compass rose for Sandwich Quay, a Grotesque in the form of a family man, a leaf sculpture and bird bath for a local garden. I even repaired a Tang Dynasty terracotta polo player. I completed many house signs and carved some animal portraits.
My year started off with a broken ankle, but I pushed through. I entered several awards and was shortlisted for a sole trader award. I went to No 11 Downing street as part of the celebrations of these Small Awards.
On the 10th July, what was the hottest day of the year, I met the King at Walmer Castle, we were able to have a quick discussion about apprentices. Something that a lot of you know that I would like to one day be able to offer.
I attended some really interesting events and gave talks to local groups.
I attended the opening weekend of the Maison Dieu, a project that I have been involved with from the beginning. I carved a piece that was presented to one of the directors.
At the sunken garden eco fair, I had 25 people have a go at stone carving and one young lad found that he wants to be a stonemason, at Dover castle I ran my popular activity at the Trans Manche Geo Park festival, roughly 60 people of all ages were able to try their hand at stone carving.
I had fun taking part in two medieval festivals, Le weekend in Sandwich with the Medieval Centre and at Betteshanger Park. People watched me complete the carving that I started way back in 2023, before I moved back to Sandwich. They could also try their hand at stonemasonry.
I had a group of local school children visit my shop in Sandwich, where I gave a demonstration and they took a rubbing of my Invicta horse carving.
14 1st Walmer Beaver scouts came and spent their evening at my shop. I split the group into two and half had a go at at stone carving, while the other half took a rubbing of my Invicta Horse carving. I asked them all to design a grotesque and then the swapped over. We had a competition for the best design and the winner received a carving of their initial. I am really looking forward to doing this more in the coming year.
I continue to carve my commissions and next year, I have some really exciting carving jobs to get on with, one is a portrait that will take me roughly 3-4mths.
I had quite a few people come and do my 1 hour taster session and one lady had 10 hours for her 80th birthday present, she loved it so much she paid for an extra extra hour.
I need your help, though, in order to continue doing all of this, (except breaking my ankle, I don’t want to do that again) and helping to champion the historic and ancient craft of stonemasonry, I need to buy my shop.
Last year, my landlady offered me the shop to buy, sadly she died before we could finalise the agreement.
There have been a lot of complications and the building has been valued £115,000 above what I was originally offered it at. Due to these complications, they can’t honour my landlady’s wishes.
As you know I want to get involved in the training of the next generation of stonemasons, I don’t want to start this until I have a secure base of operations. The shop comes with a flat above, this will give me a place to live, (I currently live with my Mum) and anyone who comes for a short job release, if they need, could potentially stay with me. This isn’t just about me as a business, but it also impacts the local business community, too many business premises are being turned into residential properties. I’m not just a business, I help with the promotion of our town and the businesses, charitable foundations and historic buildings, so this is incredibly important.
I have set up a crowdfunder page and hope with your help to raise enough funds to buy and restore the property.
Please can you pledge whatever you can afford to help me continue helping where I can and doing what I love to do.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/buyrestorecatseyecarving
Next year, I hope to be able to take part in more local events and give more people the opportunity to have a go at stone carving.
Thank you.
