“My grandad was a chippy and used to tinker about in his workshop making hand tools in those days when you didn‘t buy them off the shelf, you used to make them, and I found it interesting that my grandad would be doing something.”

John’s father also played a huge part in influencing him to becoming a carpenter and joiner. His father used to do all the woodwork in their house, and he used to let him join in to help him out.

When John was 16 years old, he found an advert in the newspaper and applied for a Young Apprentice Carpenter position. This was John’s first official entry into the woodworking industry. This job is what ignited an interest of where timber comes from and how it is prepared.

“I got a phone call that day, I jumped on my BMX and rode up there for an interview and got the job. I was lucky that the guy who taught me said, there’s a greater respect for what you’re using and what you’re making, if you know where it comes from.”

Since then, John has followed this advice knowing and working his timber from start to finish.

“The passion for oak that I’ve never been able to lose.”

Throughout John’s career one of his greatest achievements is having successfully trained 15 people over the last 30 years. Providing them with the knowledge and use of quality tools to become experts in the industry. Festool has helped John in this process making the training easier with the right tools and smart systems.