Craft at Abbey Hill
Dick Apps is a familiar figure around the steam and country fairs in the south of England. Carrying on the woodland craft of  the "bodger" Dick can be seen at many events. His pole lathe is a simple machine made from the wood that would be found around the camp of the bodger, the power for the lathe is a foot treadle operated by the bodger's foot. The wood is turned using a branch from a tree to provide the return stroke. 
All the cutting is done on the downward stroke with the tool being removed from the work for the return. Bodger in modern terms is someone who is totally unskilled at the work they are doing. In fact the term refers to the  highly skilled craftsmen who lived and worked in the beech woods of Southern England in the 18th & 19th centaury. Working in the woodland the bodger would turn out chair legs and other items for the furniture makers of the area. In fact a skilled worker could turn out around 800 items a week or 1 item every 4 or 5 minutes. Originally from Kent Dick now lives in Somerset and has been a regular attraction at Abbey hill for many years,  long may he continue to be at our steam event.

Dick decided last year 2004 that at the end of the season he would retire his familiar face and jovial banter will be sadly missed by all on the rallies around the west country  over the years he has brought enjoyment to many thousands and raised several hundred pounds for charity in the process.