Woodwould
26th June 2008, 01:49 PM
When I lived in England, I shared my life with a blue Border Collie. We were inseparable. In my village everyone knew me and my collie and if one were spotted, the other wouldn't be far away. I communicated with her on three levels; by voice commands, whistles, finger clicks and head movements (although the latter were restricted to "Here!", "Go left!", "Go right!", "Sit!" and "Lie down!").
In 1998 I was contacted about a restoration job at Lambeth Palace (the London seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury). The Palace had been bombed during The Blitz and the Bishop's private chapel (the oldest surviving part of the palace) had sustained a direct hit from an incendiary bomb causing comprehensive damage.
The rood screen (the massive carved screen and doors toward the rear of the chapel) and some of the pews had been badly damaged and as a result, had been moved into storage for many years.
The interior of the Archbishop's private chapel.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/I-Got-Wood/Restoration/Lambeth_Palace_chapel_01.jpg
The rood screen prior to The Blitz.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/I-Got-Wood/Restoration/Lambeth_Palace_rood_screen_01.jpg
The destruction caused to the chapel during World War II.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/I-Got-Wood/Restoration/Lambeth_Palace_chapel_02.jpg
The re-erection of the rood screen had been an on-going project subject to the availability of funds which proved somewhat erratic. My brief was to perform some of the finer restoration to the carvings on the rood screen and some similar restoration to the pews. I also made the huge parliament hinges for the screen doors and re-hung them.
I was nearing the completion of my work in the chapel and as ever, Vinney (named after Dorset Blue Vinney cheese) was near by. She would quite happily lie on the black and white marble floor for hours on end either watching me intently, or just having a snooze. Her colouring matched the floor on which she lay, effectively camouflaging her presence to the unsuspecting.
I was on my hands and knees doing some final colouring to a few patches on the fronts of the pews when an entourage consisting of the Archbishop, his aide and several architects and conservationists entered the chapel.
Archbishop Runcie (who officiated at the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana) noticed me and walked over to where I was working and enquired how the restoration was coming along. Being courteous, I stood up to respond, which prompted Vinney (who had been lying motionless) to get to her feet too.
The Archbishop, suddenly noticing the dog for the first time, exclaimed "Ah bless him. What a beautiful dog!" My inner self was leaping up and down, punching the air shouting the "Archbishop of Canterbury has blessed my dog"!
Vinney is possibly the only dog ever to have been blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury!
Some of the restored oak pews in Lambeth Palace chapel with the rood screen partially visible in the background.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/I-Got-Wood/Restoration/Lambeth_Palace_pews_01b.jpg
Vinney the Blue Border Collie.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/I-Got-Wood/Furniture/Vinney_01b.jpg
In 1998 I was contacted about a restoration job at Lambeth Palace (the London seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury). The Palace had been bombed during The Blitz and the Bishop's private chapel (the oldest surviving part of the palace) had sustained a direct hit from an incendiary bomb causing comprehensive damage.
The rood screen (the massive carved screen and doors toward the rear of the chapel) and some of the pews had been badly damaged and as a result, had been moved into storage for many years.
The interior of the Archbishop's private chapel.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/I-Got-Wood/Restoration/Lambeth_Palace_chapel_01.jpg
The rood screen prior to The Blitz.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/I-Got-Wood/Restoration/Lambeth_Palace_rood_screen_01.jpg
The destruction caused to the chapel during World War II.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/I-Got-Wood/Restoration/Lambeth_Palace_chapel_02.jpg
The re-erection of the rood screen had been an on-going project subject to the availability of funds which proved somewhat erratic. My brief was to perform some of the finer restoration to the carvings on the rood screen and some similar restoration to the pews. I also made the huge parliament hinges for the screen doors and re-hung them.
I was nearing the completion of my work in the chapel and as ever, Vinney (named after Dorset Blue Vinney cheese) was near by. She would quite happily lie on the black and white marble floor for hours on end either watching me intently, or just having a snooze. Her colouring matched the floor on which she lay, effectively camouflaging her presence to the unsuspecting.
I was on my hands and knees doing some final colouring to a few patches on the fronts of the pews when an entourage consisting of the Archbishop, his aide and several architects and conservationists entered the chapel.
Archbishop Runcie (who officiated at the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana) noticed me and walked over to where I was working and enquired how the restoration was coming along. Being courteous, I stood up to respond, which prompted Vinney (who had been lying motionless) to get to her feet too.
The Archbishop, suddenly noticing the dog for the first time, exclaimed "Ah bless him. What a beautiful dog!" My inner self was leaping up and down, punching the air shouting the "Archbishop of Canterbury has blessed my dog"!
Vinney is possibly the only dog ever to have been blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury!
Some of the restored oak pews in Lambeth Palace chapel with the rood screen partially visible in the background.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/I-Got-Wood/Restoration/Lambeth_Palace_pews_01b.jpg
Vinney the Blue Border Collie.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/I-Got-Wood/Furniture/Vinney_01b.jpg