Wheelwright turns old skill into community asset

Midweek. Eion Clarke, Carterton, supreme winner at the Charles Rooking Carter Awards for lifetime achievement and service.

When Eion Clarke's first boss told him the dying art of wheelmaking might come in handy one day, it turned out to be a prophetic statement -- one that would win him the pride of his home town.

Lifelong Carterton resident and wheelwright Mr Clarke received the supreme award at the 2015 Charles Rooking Carter Awards, for close to 60 years of community service.

While Mr Clarke is also known for his wooden rocking horses, building one of Carterton's first motels and spending close to 40 years fixing the town clock, he is particularly beloved for his latest creation: Surrey with a Fringe on Top, the horse-drawn carriage he made for Carterton.

So popular is the Surrey that a group of Carterton residents held a sell-out fundraising quiz to reimburse him, with List MP Ron Mark as quiz master.

"I feel pretty swept away by the whole thing," Mr Clarke said. "But, as the young people would say, it feels awesome."

Mr Clarke's journey in handiwork began in 1947, at age 16, as a blacksmith's apprenticeship at Masson Implement Company -- where he was to work for over four decades.

"I walked in, and asked, 'how about a job?'"

"You started from the bottom: I was known as 'the boy', and didn't call by bosses by their Christian names until I was in my 30s."

It was at Massons that Mr Clarke learned wheelwrighting -- making carriage wheels from wood and fire-forged metal.

"All that stuff was going out of fashion -- but the chap who taught us said it might be useful one day. Really, the Surrey is a tribute to those old guys, and their skills."

In 1969, Mr Clarke become well-known in Carterton when he began fixing the town's clock, employed by then mayor Ron Wakelin.

"I was fixing Ron's printing machines, and he said, 'Son, you're going to look after my clock.' I earned $87 a year -- I think the paper boy made more. We had a few disasters with the clock -- but it still works."

Mr Clarke later served as a district councillor from 1971 to 1989, and was deputy mayor in 1988.

He played rugby for Carterton, led fundraising drives for the Carterton School hall, built wooden horses to raffle for Ronald McDonald house, and helped build the Matador Motel "in [his] spare time".

Mr Clarke continued wheelwrighting as a hobby after retiring in the early 90s, beginning work on the Surrey in 2013.

Since then, the carriage has carried Mayor John Booth at the 140th anniversary of St Mark's Church, World War II veterans at Carterton's Anzac Day parade -- and everyone from children to rest home residents.

Any money he receives for rides will go into a charitable trust.

"I never wanted it to be a money-making venture -- I just enjoy creating things, and seeing the smiles on people's faces."

Though he turns 84 in September, Mr Clarke is showing no signs of slowing, making carriages and pony gigs for happy customers.

"I'm happiest when I'm in my overalls. I can't sit still for very long -- I just fall asleep otherwise."