Joseph would approve... Carpentry project is Dennis’ gift to church
WHEN the coronavirus lockdown hit, many were forced to work from home, sent to furlough, or lost their jobs altogether.
But what happened to the one man who never has to work another day in his life – Bristol’s biggest-ever lottery winner, Dennis Banfield?
Mr Banfield, who turned 90 in December, is Britain’s oldest lottery multimillionaire. Along with wife Shirley and two daughters, he won £18million on Lotto in February 2018, after a 40-year career as an electrician for SWEB, the South Western Electricity Board.
He’d been retired for almost 30 years when the lottery win came along, but his new-found wealth hasn’t changed his life that much – it’s just given him the extra resources to turn his handyman hobby into something really special.
Since retiring, Dennis has always had a project on the go in his workshop at home and, since his win, he’s splashed a tiny fraction of the £18million on new tools, saws and a new workbench.
It’s not quite as much as he splashed out in 2019 though, building a toilet block for his local community centre.
And during lockdown Dennis has thrown himself into making Nativity cribs.
Over the years, the amateur woodworker has made at least 50 Nativity cribs for friends and family, as well as the one in his local church, St Michael the Archangel Church in Winterbourne.
Lockdown meant Dennis had more time on his hands, so he set his mind to creating the ultimate Nativity crib – his biggest yet.
It measures more than six feet high by one metre deep, and features ladders, a hayloft, and stables, with electric lighting.
The finished crib was presented to the local church, where Shirley is a member of the choir, in time for Father Malcolm Strange to prerecord his Christmas sermons for the online, virtual version of the Christmas services.
Father Malcolm said: “This crib is an absolute work of art and we’re thrilled to be able to put it on display in the church for all our congregation to enjoy during the festive season.”
Dennis said: “I find great happiness in making the cribs and giving them away to family and friends.
“Last Christmas, Father Malcolm hinted during one of the festive services that the old crib was sadly too small for the new nativity figures that another parishioner had donated to the church so I decided to spring into action. During lockdown it has kept me busy and given me something really positive to focus on.
“We have actually been very lucky with our lockdown experience. I’ve spent most of my time in my workshop which I really enjoy.
“We are also fortunate that our daughters live nearby. They made sure we had the internet installed at the start of the year, bought us each a new iPad and got us set up with Netflix. I have spent many happy hours looking for new tools on the internet, watching videos and reading reviews on YouTube and shopping online at Axminster Tools – I’m looking forward to visiting them in person when the vaccine is rolled out.”
He added: “I think Shirley has found lockdown harder than me, she’s really missed her shopping and singing in church. She also had her 85th birthday in lockdown in October and she wanted to see her sisters and families who all live away. I was 90 in December and we had hoped to have a big party.
“I’m the second youngest of 11 and although my brothers and sisters aren’t around anymore, I have lots of nieces and nephews and it would have been wonderful to get them together with my children, grandchildren and my wife’s family.
“I am disappointed that that won’t happen but I’m really looking forward to rescheduling it for when the vaccine is rolled out.
“We’re both looking forward to getting out for a meal when we can too. Shirley always says it’s such a treat to have someone else cook you a meal and not to have to worry about tidying up.
“It will also be great when we can get back to church and Shirley can sing in the choir again.”
Dennis has also had time to make a second crib this year which was presented to Cots for Tots House – a charity that provides free accommodation for family members who need to stay close to their sick or premature babies at Bristol’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital.
As 2020 turns into 2021, Dennis is already planning a spring project – bird boxes and bird tables for family and friends.
This crib is an absolute work of art and we’re thrilled to be able to put it on display Father Malcolm Strange