I’d just started going to Sunday school at age 11. On leaving the building I passed the foundations for a new church that was being built. There were children playing near by and petrol barrels that were being used on the site. One exploded and I got hit in the leg. I was the only one hurt, as far as I know.

I was in hospital for six months and had ten skin grafts. The physio said to me “I’ve got just the thing for you” and produced empty cigarette packets, John Player, Senior Service. She began cutting them into strips and then showed me how to make the strips into animals.

The first animal I made was a dog. I went on to make giraffes and all sorts. That was 1953. People keep asking me for them. The only problem now is finding packaging boxes. If I’ve got boxes in the house, I put them to one side. The local chemist saves medicine boxes for me and I collect them in bulk.