About John

Most people who knew my father would have said that he had a certain idiosyncratic way about him. I suspect that most of my friends would say that I have inherited certain of his ways.

 

Whilst in my teens my dad had me labouring for him whilst he was trying to realise his idea of a mud hut. A cypressa tree had blown over in the gales and this led to an abortive attempt to pull it upright using a series of ropes and all the strength of a BL mini clubman. The decision was therefore to cut it into useable lengths to provide four corner uprights bolted to 3ft concrete posts. With these in place we put up some shuttering and rammed in some clay, punning it by me jumping up and down. The shuttering was then removed and fires were set on either side and had the effect of baking the clay. All was hunky-dory, except for the onset of winter rain and soon the walls were piles of orange mud. A valuable lesson in the benefits of a bit of research and planning.

 

I highlight this story as one from my childhood which has perhaps moulded me and makes me look laterally at situations.

 

I have developed my interest in building over the years in both theoretical and practical ways. I have building qualifications and over the last year have been attending an eco-building course, which has broadened my horizons. I have tried to put my eco-building skills to the test in the garden, such as constructing sheds and a wood-store, from recycled materials. I am perhaps most pleased with my dismantling and subsequent re-construction of a garage/workshop. This had been built in the 1970’s with a flat asbestos sheeted roof. With the asbestos roof safely disposed of, the rebuilding incorporated a conventional pitched roof using reclaimed timber for the joists and the door. The UPVC leaded light door was rescued from a skip and became the personnel door.

 

I have a number of interests, though perhaps most abidingly, cycling and things bike-related. I have set up a home for distressed cycles and whilst some may be restorable I am looking at other uses for the constituent parts.

 

My interests also extend to alternative energy and a friend and I have put together a roadshow of pedal-powered generators, solar-PV panels and various child-friendly gizmos. The intention is to inspire an interest and understanding in what energy is and where it comes from.

 

I have also been involved in my local community, as a school governor, as a member of my local agenda 21 group and as a sometimes organiser of the local horticultural show.

 

I have friends from all walks of life and with a number of different perspectives on life. It is one of the joys of life to be able to bring these to bear when undertaking a project such as building a home.