Chris Roberts

We have great pleasure in recognising Chris Roberts for his woodwork talents.

Chris is a Year 11 pupil at Ysgol Bryn Alyn and is one of the Deputy Head pupils. Chris showed an interest in woodwork from an early age, often tinkering about in the workshop and was given a wood turning lathe for his 10th birthday. After reading books and watching YouTube videos he soon got the hang of it and was making many beautiful items, including pens, letter openers, bowls, candle holders, bottle openers etc…

In year 9 Chris designed and made a paddle for a Duke of Edinburgh canoeing expedition. He used 2 different types of wood, sourced suitable glue and varnish and used many different tools including hand carving tools, band saw, chisels and produced a stunning piece of work which he used for his Bronze and Silver DofE.

Chris is currently hand carving a traditional Welsh love spoon as part of the skills challenge for his Gold DofE award.

In 2019, Chris was contacted by a local gentleman who wanted to restore his late uncle’s draughts set. The gentleman’s late uncle was blind and deaf, but an expert draughts player, with a photographic memory, a specially designed draught board had been made for his uncle and he had travelled the world and become a champion draughts player. His nephew only had one remaining piece of the specially designed draught pieces and was hoping to restore the original set. Chris set about remaking all 24 draught pieces copying the design for each light and dark piece, each with the original design on top. 

Mr Williams who had commissioned Chris was so delighted with his workmanship that he contacted BBC Wales, who interviewed them both and was presented on the BBC Welsh News on New Year’s Day, 2019. 

Chris is now focussing on making handcrafted items such as pens, keyrings, bottle openers etc.
He has been accepted to attend the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea in 2023, he hopes to sell them at local Christmas markets and all the money raised will go towards fundraising towards the jamboree.

Well done Chris, it’s wonderful to see someone so young who is developing skills learning the traditional methods of wood working.