A WHITCHURCH grandad has used his carpentry skills to raise £10,000 for Oswestry’s Hope House which cared for his grandson before his death.

Talented craftsman and retired serviceman Eric Williams turns wood to create hand-crafted gifts and products which he sells in aid of Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices.

The hospice, near Oswestry, supported his grandson Ben Evison, who sadly passed away three years ago at the age of 15.

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Eric sells his crafts through the Tŷ Gobaith’s Llandudno charity shop, and as private sales.

He recycles timber from generous businesses, friends and neighbours, and spends hours working in his shed, putting in his time for free.

The crafts he creates are then sold with all profit going to help other local children with life-threatening conditions.

“I’ve sold £6,000 worth of products in the shop, and also sold and been gifted more than £4,000 independently,” he said.

“Altogether I’ve made £10,000 from making bowls, birdboxes, planters, wheelbarrows, Christmas stables and reindeer, and even a pork pie for Powell’s Pies, in Whitchurch.”

Eric started fundraising for Hope House in 2017 when the hospice first supported his grandson Ben and family.

Ben had a rare genetic muscle wasting condition which required operations to strengthen his spine, and the use of a wheelchair to get around and was a regular with mum Kathy, dad Paul, brother Luke and sister Bethany.

Ben Evison. Ben Evison. (Image: Hope House.)

“The support that Ben and the family received from Hope House was marvellous,” said Eric.

“Due to his condition, we were told he may only live for a year or two. However, Ben was a fighter, and made it to his 15th birthday.

“Ben loved trips out and activities with Hope House. He enjoyed bowling, going to the zoo, and cooking, and would quiz staff on some of his expert subjects and he could tell you the name of every type of dinosaur there was.

“He was a happy, smiley boy with a bright and mischievous sense of humour.”

Ben attended secondary school in Whitchurch, he was an avid Manchester United fan and also took part in wheelchair football with Shrewsbury Town in the Community.

He even took to the stage at one of the club’s Gala Dinner and wowed the audience with his incredible story.

“He looked so smart in his bowtie – we were very proud of him,” said Eric.

“There was a lot of love for Ben, and his parents received many messages of support from the community when he passed away.

“Hope House were wonderful, and I’ll support the charity for as long as I can. I’m 79 now but I’m not planning on stopping any time soon. I’m lucky to have the full support of my wife Angela.

Eric recently visited Hope House children’s hospice in Morda to help put up his handcrafted birdboxes and bug hotels in the new Forest School area.

He is particularly grateful to Wooden Gate Timber Products Ltd in Whitchurch, who have provided much of the wood he uses in his workshop with saved cut-offs.

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Fundraiser Catrin Dowdeswell said: “To have raised £10,000 from the crafts he creates in his garden workshop is a wonderful thing to do in memory of Ben.

“And we can’t wait to see our birdboxes and bug hotels being used by wildlife in our new Forest School area for many years to come.”

To find out more about supporting Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith in memory of a loved one, visit www.hopehouse.org.uk/givinginmemory