A 91-year-old pensioner has handcrafted more than 300 wooden toy monkeys to support community projects in Somerset.
John Harris, who resides at a Glastonbury care home, travels to the Street and Walton Men’s Shed twice each week to create the toys in the workshop.
The Men’s Shed provides a space where people can socialise while using woodworking facilities.
Mr Harris sells his handmade creations and gives others to local charity shops, with proceeds going towards good causes.
The nonagenarian has maintained this charitable hobby for over three years, producing the distinctive wooden monkeys that have become his signature craft.
Mr Harris turned to woodworking as a form of therapy following the death of his wife.
“When I lost my wife, I went into Men’s Shed. I used it for therapy,” he said.
“It’s a fantastic place, we’re all in together, and we have men’s banter as usual.
John Harris, 91, has donated 300 handmade wooden toys to charity
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BRUNEL CARE
His son-in-law drives him to and from the workshop each week, ensuring the 91-year-old can continue pursuing his passion.
Prior to retirement, Mr Harris enjoyed a varied professional life that took him across the country, including roles in the Police Force, the Air Force, and subsequently in accountancy.
Initially, he produced the monkeys for the Men’s Shed, but when they had sufficient stock, he noticed a young family with children who lacked spare money and began gifting his creations to them.
“I gave them the monkeys I was making, and it made me feel good inside. I now make some for the church and some for the Brunel Care Home where I live,” he said.
‘It’s wonderful having John with us. He’s kind, caring, and always checking if any of his monkeys have sold’
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BRUNEL CARE
Mr Harris has three children, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren who visit him regularly.
Nisha Binumon, Glastonbury Care Home Manager, said: “It’s wonderful having John with us. He’s kind, caring, and always checking if any of his monkeys have sold.”
She added that Mr Harris frequently gives toys to carers with children to “spread joy to everyone”.
Brunel Care Home has taken to displaying the pensioner’s handcrafted monkeys at reception for visitors to purchase.
Meanwhile, in Weston-Super-Mare, another pensioner has developed an ingenious way to save up money for charity.
John Brice, a 79-year-old blind veteran, has collected more than £1,000 for charity over the past 18 months using old milk bottles.
The former RAF sergeant, who lost his vision to age-related macular degeneration in 2006, launched his “Every Penny Counts” initiative in July 2024 to support Blind Veterans UK.
The charity has assisted Mr Brice for 11 years, and his campaign offers a simple way for supporters to contribute at minimal cost.
He encourages people nationwide to save plastic milk or cordial bottles and fill them with spare coins for donation to the organisation.