The Wells west front conservation program had been under way for a year when I joined in 1979. I worked as a statue conservator in the summer and a stone mason in the winter for four years. The angels pictured left are thought by Jerry Sampson, the buildings archaeologist, to be exemplars. When the west front was built In the 13th centaury, it was an enormous fast moving project attracting stone carvers and masons from all over Europe. If they were unknown they would have to make an example of their work to prove their competence. The conservators of 1979 also had to  do likewise in a training program and I carved this copy of an original angel. It was not used at the time and remains a treasured possession  Many of the friends I worked with there like myself owe so much to the teaching of Professor Robert Baker  project leader.  

Wells Cathedral Angel 1979

At a time when I was short of money and stone I carved this figure of a martyr on the reverse of my angel holding martyrs crowns. Above is a bronze cast from the stone head. Opposite is the much superior original carving.