A group of loving care home residents have carved out a new hobby.
Craft worker Coral Devlin revealed the secrets of the traditional Welsh lovespoon at the Pendine Park care organisation in Wrexham.
She gave a talk and demonstration on how to make the ancient love tokens engraved with symbols and messages of love.
Coral explained that lovespoons were first carved as long ago as 1667 and the oldest known example is now on display at the National Museum of Wales, in Cardiff.
She told her enthralled audience at the Highfield care home: “Men would carve a lovespoon and give it as a gift to a women who might be looking for a husband.
“Each county of Wales has its own symbol and the symbols engraved onto the spoons also had distinct meanings.
“For example. two balls in a cage indicated that the man wanted to marry and have two children while an anchor meant a settled love and eternal devotion and security.
“I think I would prefer a lovespoon with a spade engraved on it as this meant the man had a willingness to work and provide for his wife!”
She added: “We have a thriving group, of around 25 people from all walks of life that meet at Brynteg and work together making lovespoons and other decorative objects.
“The Brynteg Bodgers, as we are called, always welcomes new members and we have people from all walks of life including a blind gentleman.”
Pendine Park’s Activities Manager Gerry Humphreys says she wanted to give residents the opportunity to learn something about traditional Welsh crafts.
She said: “We like to give residents the opportunity to enjoy a range of activities and always like to have a strong Welsh theme around St David’s Day.
“We want residents to have the opportunity to learn about, and to try, different skills. The more we can stimulate residents the better. Of course they only attend talks and demonstrations if they want to, it certainly isn‘t compulsory.”
“Coral’s talk on love spoons has been fascinating and the residents have clearly enjoyed it. They have asked some very interesting questions and obviously enjoyed hearing what each particular symbol meant.”
Highfield resident Doctor Howell Jones was particularly interested in hearing which woods were suitable for the carving of lovespoons.
He said: “Some of the lovespoon designs are fascinating and delightfully carved. I really enjoyed seeing how a small piece of soft wood could be carved into such a beautiful object.”
Fellow resident Doreen Whitehead agreed and added: “I really enjoyed the talk and seeing how love spoons are carved.
“I always like it when we have people coming in to give us demonstrations. You are never to old to learn new things.”
Retired Chartered Engineer Malcolm Crosbie enjoyed the talk along with Audrey, his wife of 56 years, who is a resident of the Highfield Unit.
Malcolm said: “The talk was wonderful and really interesting. I come into visit Audrey almost daily and always enjoy the activities Gerry and her team put together for residents.
“To be perfectly honest I am a very sceptical person and when Audrey had to come into a care home as I could no longer manage at home I was really concerned.
“However, I cannot believe just how marvellous Pendine Park is nor how dedicated the staff are.
“Activities are stimulating, fun and pitched at the right level which helps keep residents active and interested. I really haven’t got a bad word to say about Pendine Park and its wonderful staff.”
