I am always surprised at the twists and turns in the life of our studio. The phone rang the other day with a call from the producer of the BBC Radio Lancashire John Barnes show. He was very interested in our work and wanted me to come on the show to tell the listeners about stained glass window making and how I started in the craft. I thought it would be a good idea to not just talk but demonstrate the craft on live radio. I was introduced to the broadcaster, John Barnes, and he interviewed me between playing music. I told him about how the coloured glass is cut to shape and joined using lead cames. He was also favourable to the idea of having a go at glass cutting so after another break for music he moved from his seat in front of the microphone and sat with me at the side table. I showed him how to cut glass and make a real stained glass window just like the ones we make on our stained glass courses and classes. He was very soon able to cut some strips of glass and I gave him 9 out of 10 for a very good first attempt. “ I feel like I am on the Generation Game, ‘Good Game, Good Game’”, he said in his best Bruce Forsyth voice.
The travelling around the UK is an enjoyable and necessary part of the job with enquiries coming from as far north as the Shetland Isles down to the tip of Cornwall. With jobs coming in from England, Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man for our beautiful hand made glass. The variety of jobs is always refreshing with stained glass protection, triple and double glazing always popular and church window repair jobs in demand. It is a shame to see the state of damaged windows but always a joy to see the progress of a restored window and finally see it back in place.
All the best, Andrew
