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| Covid: Wrexham cousins forge blacksmiths business in lockdown | Covid: Wrexham cousins forge blacksmiths business in lockdown |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
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| Covid: Wrexham teens become blacksmiths in lockdown | |
| Two teenage cousins are forging ahead with a blacksmith business they set up in lockdown. | Two teenage cousins are forging ahead with a blacksmith business they set up in lockdown. |
| Ollie and Harvey, who are 14 and 13, are the seventh generation of blacksmiths in their family. | Ollie and Harvey, who are 14 and 13, are the seventh generation of blacksmiths in their family. |
| The decorative metal designs they make in their grandfather's workshop in Garden Village, Wrexham, have been bought from as far away as Indonesia. | The decorative metal designs they make in their grandfather's workshop in Garden Village, Wrexham, have been bought from as far away as Indonesia. |
| Harvey said it was watching grandad Tony Roberts working with metal that sparked their interest. | Harvey said it was watching grandad Tony Roberts working with metal that sparked their interest. |
| "A long, long time ago, 1804, our family bought the Wrexham smithy and started doing blacksmithing," he said. | "A long, long time ago, 1804, our family bought the Wrexham smithy and started doing blacksmithing," he said. |
| "Our grandad did it and we found it really interesting. We had a go, and then we thought we've come this far and we may as well try to make a business out of it. | "Our grandad did it and we found it really interesting. We had a go, and then we thought we've come this far and we may as well try to make a business out of it. |
| "We had to have help at the start - it's really dangerous and there are lots of sparks." | "We had to have help at the start - it's really dangerous and there are lots of sparks." |
| Teen lockdown artist offered thousands for work | Teen lockdown artist offered thousands for work |
| Who fancies a four-day working week? | Who fancies a four-day working week? |
| The 17-year-old blacksmith going viral online | The 17-year-old blacksmith going viral online |
| But it was Wales' lockdowns that really helped the boys find the time to hone their craft. | But it was Wales' lockdowns that really helped the boys find the time to hone their craft. |
| The pair's own design and creation, which they will be giving away in a draw to raise funds | The pair's own design and creation, which they will be giving away in a draw to raise funds |
| "It just progressed, and we were able to do bigger projects," said Ollie. | "It just progressed, and we were able to do bigger projects," said Ollie. |
| "We try to come here as much as possible to get things done, and get the orders done." | "We try to come here as much as possible to get things done, and get the orders done." |
| The design ideas, which include flowers and birds, initially came from the internet but are increasingly beginning to sprout from Ollie and Harvey's own imaginations. | The design ideas, which include flowers and birds, initially came from the internet but are increasingly beginning to sprout from Ollie and Harvey's own imaginations. |
| One current project is a dolphin made from old spoons, which is destined to go on display at the British Ironwork Centre. | One current project is a dolphin made from old spoons, which is destined to go on display at the British Ironwork Centre. |
| They have also created a bouquet of eight steel roses with a symbolic robin, made from a spoon and a fork, to raise money for Nightingale House hospice in Wrexham. | |
| The boys have already smashed their £200 target, raising more than £500 and counting. | The boys have already smashed their £200 target, raising more than £500 and counting. |
| Continuing a legacy... Ollie and Harvey with their grandfather and great-grandfather | Continuing a legacy... Ollie and Harvey with their grandfather and great-grandfather |
| Mr Roberts, 61, a former blacksmith at Brymbo Steelworks, said he was "very proud" of their "very impressive" work. | Mr Roberts, 61, a former blacksmith at Brymbo Steelworks, said he was "very proud" of their "very impressive" work. |
| "It's a very interesting trade and very unusual for two young lads to take it up - but I'm glad they have," he said. | "It's a very interesting trade and very unusual for two young lads to take it up - but I'm glad they have," he said. |
| "As long as they keep up the interest... it'll stay in the family." | "As long as they keep up the interest... it'll stay in the family." |
| He explained that started with the boys having a go at welding: "They took to it, they got to a point when they were welding quite competently. | He explained that started with the boys having a go at welding: "They took to it, they got to a point when they were welding quite competently. |
| "They started off making small things like keyrings and bottle holders... they've progressed to making things for the likes of Nightingale House." | "They started off making small things like keyrings and bottle holders... they've progressed to making things for the likes of Nightingale House." |
| Mr Roberts' father, 86-year-old Albert Roberts, was an apprentice at the family smithy in Little Acton, which closed down in the 1980s. | Mr Roberts' father, 86-year-old Albert Roberts, was an apprentice at the family smithy in Little Acton, which closed down in the 1980s. |
| He said it was "wonderful" to see his great-grandsons at work. | He said it was "wonderful" to see his great-grandsons at work. |
| The boys use the same tools their great-grandfather (r) used many years ago | The boys use the same tools their great-grandfather (r) used many years ago |
| "My son has all my blacksmithing tools. My great-grandsons use them today," said Albert Roberts. | "My son has all my blacksmithing tools. My great-grandsons use them today," said Albert Roberts. |
| "I'm so very proud of them both, to think what they've achieved.. my son taught them, of course, but they do everything now on their own. I think they are great, the pair of them. | "I'm so very proud of them both, to think what they've achieved.. my son taught them, of course, but they do everything now on their own. I think they are great, the pair of them. |
| "I try to give them a little bit of advice from time to time but they know what they need to do most of the time anyway now." | "I try to give them a little bit of advice from time to time but they know what they need to do most of the time anyway now." |
| Ollie and Harvey are currently working on orders for metal daffodils for St David's Day and they have their sights set on expanding their business. | Ollie and Harvey are currently working on orders for metal daffodils for St David's Day and they have their sights set on expanding their business. |
| "I think it's good that we're so young and we've taken on blacksmithing. Not many people do it anymore," said Harvey. | "I think it's good that we're so young and we've taken on blacksmithing. Not many people do it anymore," said Harvey. |
| "It's nice that we're carrying it on and trying to get it big again." | "It's nice that we're carrying it on and trying to get it big again." |
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