A LIFE of working with wood in grand houses, churches, shops, banks and ordinary homes has given Steve Rowe a fund of tales.

This month Steve retired, his son Stuart taking on the business. Stuart has worked with the company since leaving school, continuing its ethos of personal service and craftsmanship.

The S P Rowe website says this building contractor and joinery specialist gives true craftsmanship and good old-fashioned personal service and that the combined experience of the staff enables the company to provide a wide range of bespoke joinery and construction work.

This includes restorations, copying old woodwork, architectural restoration and shop fitting.

Steve is a Kirton boy, he went to the Hayward’s Boys School, had always wanted to be a carpenter and was lucky enough to get an apprenticeship with Dart and Francis whose work was very much as Steve’s is now.

His mother was evacuated to Crediton from London during the last World War, her father had been working with Gaumont British in London and came to Crediton to work as Clerk of Works building the offices and studios at Newcombes that later became Heathcoat’s parachute factory.

His father’s family had moved from Wales where his grandfather was a tinsmith and later worked with Hoskins in Crediton.

When Steve began his five years apprenticeship, Percy Staddon was general manager at Dart and Francis, Nobby Clark was joinery manager with about 40 people working there at one time.

Among jobs Steve worked on was the London Guildhall, Liverpool Cathedral, Exeter Cathedral, a number of Lloyds banks including at Okehampton where they also made the doors.

During his 16 years with Dart and Francis, Steve married Sue who had grown up at Venny Tedburn. They have a son Stuart and daughter, Debbie as well as five grandchildren.

When they were first married they lived at The Green, later moving to Greenway and then to their present home on Buller Road, almost opposite Steve’s works.

He was lucky to be able to rent and later to buy the old cottages at the bottom of Buller Road which became the workshops and yard.

One of the jobs Steve remembers most is restoration of 18th century Barnhill at Brampford Speke, a fascinating property with a small tower on the roof, featured in the television programme “Restoration Home” with Caroline Quentin in 2013.

Steve did joinery work for Whippell’s of Exeter, who were the largest church supplies and church furniture company in the world, and he used to supply goods for their London and American shops.

S P Rowe also became involved at one time in making child-size cottages for a local company, did some work for the National Trust, has worked in churches, cathedrals, banks and numerous large houses in the South West.

Locally, S P Rowe did the re-fit of Mitchell’s bakery for LeRoy Funeral Services, had re-fitted The Red House and The Green Toy Shop which closed several years ago but the shop front is still there as well as several others that have now changed use.

Although the work has changed in some ways, it still demands the same craftsmanship and skill - and understanding of wood.

Steve and his wife Sue, who was a care worker but because of coronavirus has given up work, are looking forward to a life with more time to pursue their own interests at leisure - as well as enjoying the grandchildren.