The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Model creator invited to tour the real thing
Story has travelled all over the world
A Monifieth man who built a cardboard model of St George’s Chapel in Windsor has been invited for a VIP tour of the landmark itself.
Bob Heron, 94, spent 40 years making his reconstruction of the Windsor Castle chapel.
After his handiwork was featured in The Courier, and his achievements picked up by news outlets as far away as Australia, Bob received a letter from chapel managers suggesting he visit for a tour of the building.
The great-grandfather said he would try to combine a trip with a visit to family in England next year.
He said: “It is great to have my work recognised in this way.
“My story has been online and read by people all over the world, as far away as Australia.
“My son is writing a letter to thank Windsor Castle for the invitation.
“The letter said that if I were ever in the area I could visit and they would give me a tour.
“I would love to do this. At my age travel is difficult. I’d have to go down with my son so I might go when I’m visiting him in Halifax.”
Bob began building the model in the 1970s, but put it to one side as he threw himself into raising a family.
He remembered about the partially-completed project when he was given the task of putting together another model of the Globe Theatre.
The chapel required painstaking attention to detail, with thousands of tiny folds and scores needed to complete it, but Bob was well equipped for the task.
In his youth, he attended Dundee art college before going on to an apprenticeship at Sturrock and Murray at Dundee Dock.
During the Second World War, he served on board HMS Fleetwood as an artificer responsible for maintaining the ship’s engines and boilers.
He said: “I’ve been involved in art and engineering and every day of my life I’m doing some kind of work with my God-given pair of hands.
“I also write and see myself as a bit of a poet.”
A spokeswoman for Windsor Castle confirmed a letter had been sent to Bob.