PFH resident Edward Overton has recreated his beloved bungalow using hundreds of lollipop sticks.
It was his son, Lee, who brought him a load of lollipop sticks with the challenge to do something with them.
“It’s the first time I’ve done anything like that,” said the former joiner. “My wife has died and I live on my own so you get bored, so I think he thought it would give me something to do. At first I thought he was going round the bend. Either that or he thought I was.”
Mr Overton, who has lived in his bungalow at East Grove for 16 years, got the idea of what to build with the sticks after watching a TV programme about building houses.
He said: “I thought I have a ready-made copy of a bungalow so I decided to make that. I kept going outside to check the design and measurements and would spend about an hour a day or until I couldn’t concentrate anymore.
“I made a few mistakes on the walls and had to start bits again and the roof took a lot of time. I had to go out and buy some more lolly sticks as I had run out.
“I did a garden and path but didn’t have enough room for the shed.
“It did take quite a bit of time. I had a semi-stroke so sometimes I have trouble picking things up with my right hand, but I’m pleased with how it went and proud of it. It was quite therapeutic and gave me something to do.”
The 20-inch bungalow has taken pride of place in Mr Overton’s back bedroom and has inspired him to work on other projects. Since the bungalow, he’s built a trawler out of matchsticks and is now looking for other things to create.
“The trawler was quite tricky but I’m pleased with it and I am now trying to think of other things to make. I tried a plastic galleon, but couldn’t do that, so I am now trying to think of other things to construct.”