When we lived in Ford we took my young brother's bike to Tom to see if he could repair it. We never ever went back to pick it up (can't recall why). It was still there in the yard years later probably until the smithy closed. You could see it from the top deck of the bus when going over the Lift Bridge - Seeing it always gave me a smile.

c1970 I took a 6' barbell to Tom to cut it in 4 to make dumbbell bars. He marked it in 4 places with chalk and cut it with a large hacksaw-type blade tool with a push-pull action operated from a diesel engine by wheels and pulleys. It would be a while so I nipped next door to the Lion for a pint. He only charged me 5 bob.

I can still see him now with the rolled-up sleeves of his brown shirt. He always stood at the gate to the yard taking to passing folk.