I recently completed and handed over a project to my woodturning mentor, Richard.

His father had been a very loyal and enthusiastic supporter of Gosport Borough Football Club. From the age of four, Richard accompanied his dad to home and away matches. He still attends matches, and sits in the seat that his father sat in for many years, from where he would swing his football rattle, ring his bell at cup matches, and cheer on the team with shouts of “Come on my lovelies!”

Richard had told me this story, and of how his dad, who had been injured in the war, would discharge himself from his rehab ward at Stoke Mandeville, in order to attend matches, and re-admit himself afterwards.

As he showed me the cup match bell, and the rattles he and his dad would use, an idea popped into my head: to make Richard a display case for the rattles that he and his dad used.

I had already started making a Navy Sword display case – a commissioned project for a friend. Unfortunately, I had a glue freeze during the making of this case, and ended up breaking one of the sides of the case. There had already been some minor mistakes, which were fixable, but this was the last straw. As I put the remaining pieces to one side, I decided they could be re-purposed for Richard’s case – a surprise gift

With the aid of his daughter, and without his knowledge, I got the dimensions of the rattles and set to work.

The wood is yellow cedar. It is relatively difficult to work, because the grain is so irregular, and tear outs happen very readily. However it smells lovely, and does look attractive.

Here are some pictures of the finished result, and of Richard with his surprise gift.

I am now making that Navy Sword display case, which is going well so far – at least the joints are not too tight this time!