'Mr Sandman'

Julian Pine became my real life Mr Sandman - although, when he initially offered to help me with my waggon restoration, I'll admit I was slightly sceptical. I expected him to take one look at the size of the waggon and run for the hills! Instead, he looked and took it all in, put his bag down, and said ‘well I didn’t just drive here to look at it’. So I chucked him a dust mask and a sanding block; and so began his induction into the waggon restoration world. Armed with nothing more than our specially made playlists, thermal clothes and a much needed sense of humour. Nothing ever deterred him from coming, not even the snow.

Unknown to me when I accepted Julian's help, was his recognized clumsiness or his phobia of heights (which I found out about much later)! However, we took the scaffold platform down a few levels (he was much taller than me) and my advise was to try and fall into the waggon, if at all poss! He was always careful getting up and down, but did tend to drop things from it, such as the many sanding blocks I'd have to throw back up to him. However, he never once complained that he was sanding a whole waggon side again, after doing so twice already, between paint coats, on previous visits. Precious visits now.

His first trip to the waggon was in early December, I remember the snow being quite bad that day and we had to park just off the main road and walk to the barn. It was so cold but he shrugged it off and soon got into his stride, so beginning his sanding experience. When we could no longer feel our hands or feet we called it a day and warmed up with a chippy meal and brew at home. He joked how he couldn't wait for the warmer weather so he could wear shorts & t-shirts. We'd always make a day of it and then be chatting into the night. I miss our chats.

Everything, Everywhere

His confidence grew with each visit, ending with his last trip up to the waggon on the 15th March. We had fitted some carvings (which will forever be known to me as 'Julian's corner') and he was really excited at seeing that instant progress and so proud of the work he’d done. I recall telling him at the time, 'I think we've found your niche'. He left that night on a high and keen to arrange his next waggon day ....... sadly, this was never to be. He passed away 4 days later and I lost someone who had, in a short space of time, become one of my best friends; making a big impact on my life and leaving an everlasting impression

Julian had always been extremely supportive of the restoration, he loved the ethos behind why I was doing it. He would send me encouraging messages if I had discovered a new problem to solve on it. He kept me motivated and use to say, ‘you’ve got this’, ‘you can do it’, which, when he came on board, changed to ‘we’ve got this’ and ‘we’ll get it done’. His positivity and optimism rubbed off on me and his calmness too. His energy made me shine brighter and so finishing this waggon means even more to me now, as I now find myself with another heartfelt reason to cross the line; another memory to honor and a friendship I will always cherish.

Thank you Julian for always being there for me when I needed you. Rest in peace , my true friend, I will miss you more than I can ever put into words.