Leadlighter whose work is ‘all over Dunedin' still keen at 90
A Dunedin leadlighter who has just turned 90 plans to keep at his craft until he no longer can.
Chris Watts' work can be seen across Otago, displayed in museums, fitted on houses, decorating churches and welcoming patrons into pubs.
"Oh, they're all over Dunedin ... At the Rope and Twine, the Law Courts, in First Church — all around the place," Mr Watts said.
He had been in the leadlight game for 50 years and had no plans to slow down, despite celebrating his 90th birthday last Thursday.
"I might hang around for a bit longer, there's only 90 years gone but there's a few more to go here I think."
Mr Watts has attempted to pass on his knowledge four times, but every budding leadlighter quickly grew frustrated and gave up the craft.
"It's such a concentrated job ... It's a lot of patience, and they just didn't want to know — they'd rather wait for payday.
"There's room for it if somebody wants to take it up, but it's that patience you've got to have."
Leadlight maker Chris Watts checks a piece of recovered stained glass. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON
Mr Watts was born in England in 1935 and after his mother "ran off with a boarder" he was placed in an orphanage.
He was shuttled between foster homes and orphanages throughout his childhood and was twice buried in rubble during the blitz in World War 2.
"Eight foster homes — they didn't want me, they just wanted the money with it, and when they got fed up they sent me back to the home. That's how it worked."
He moved to New Zealand after marrying his wife Pauline Watts — whom he wooed when planting a kiss on her while locked in a pie factory's walk-in freezer.
Mrs Watts was engaged to another man at the time and her then fiance's mother was on the other side of the freezer door.
"She did not approve the match," he said.
It had always been Mrs Watts' dream to move to New Zealand, and he had "nowhere to go anyways", Mr Watts said.
The pair jumped on the last Ten Pound Pom ship to New Zealand from Britain and never looked back.
Chris Watts points to the stained-glass window he made to sell as a fundraiser for his great grandson Billy Casey. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
"She said, 'do you mind?' I said, 'I don't care'."
One of Mr Watts' latest leadlight works was a piece with the birth flowers of his granddaughter's children.
His daughter, Karen Fraser, said the piece was a surprise.
"My daughter had 10 pregnancies, and she's now got three living children ... So Dad's just done this amazing piece showing their birth flowers."
He also made two panels to be auctioned off at a gala day in Weston in support of his great-grandson's medical costs.
"Dad did that to raise funds for Billy, who was born with holoprosencephaly, which is a part of his brain missing."
They got $1000 each for the two panels.
"Dad's quite clever, and he definitely knows it," Mrs Fraser said.
laine.priestley@odt.co.nz
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Otago Daily Times
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Leadlighter whose work is ‘all over Dunedin' still keen at 90
Leadlight maker Chris Watts in his workshop with great-grandson Billy Casey, 2, grandson-in-law Mat Casey and other great-grandson Hamish Casey, 6. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A Dunedin leadlighter who has just turned 90 plans to keep at his craft until he no longer can. Chris Watts' work can be seen across Otago, displayed in museums, fitted on houses, decorating churches and welcoming patrons into pubs. "Oh, they're all over Dunedin ... At the Rope and Twine, the Law Courts, in First Church — all around the place," Mr Watts said. He had been in the leadlight game for 50 years and had no plans to slow down, despite celebrating his 90th birthday last Thursday. "I might hang around for a bit longer, there's only 90 years gone but there's a few more to go here I think." Mr Watts has attempted to pass on his knowledge four times, but every budding leadlighter quickly grew frustrated and gave up the craft. "It's such a concentrated job ... It's a lot of patience, and they just didn't want to know — they'd rather wait for payday. "There's room for it if somebody wants to take it up, but it's that patience you've got to have." Leadlight maker Chris Watts checks a piece of recovered stained glass. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON Mr Watts was born in England in 1935 and after his mother "ran off with a boarder" he was placed in an orphanage. He was shuttled between foster homes and orphanages throughout his childhood and was twice buried in rubble during the blitz in World War 2. "Eight foster homes — they didn't want me, they just wanted the money with it, and when they got fed up they sent me back to the home. That's how it worked." He moved to New Zealand after marrying his wife Pauline Watts — whom he wooed when planting a kiss on her while locked in a pie factory's walk-in freezer. Mrs Watts was engaged to another man at the time and her then fiance's mother was on the other side of the freezer door. "She did not approve the match," he said. It had always been Mrs Watts' dream to move to New Zealand, and he had "nowhere to go anyways", Mr Watts said. The pair jumped on the last Ten Pound Pom ship to New Zealand from Britain and never looked back. Chris Watts points to the stained-glass window he made to sell as a fundraiser for his great grandson Billy Casey. PHOTO: SUPPLIED "She said, 'do you mind?' I said, 'I don't care'." One of Mr Watts' latest leadlight works was a piece with the birth flowers of his granddaughter's children. His daughter, Karen Fraser, said the piece was a surprise. "My daughter had 10 pregnancies, and she's now got three living children ... So Dad's just done this amazing piece showing their birth flowers." He also made two panels to be auctioned off at a gala day in Weston in support of his great-grandson's medical costs. "Dad did that to raise funds for Billy, who was born with holoprosencephaly, which is a part of his brain missing." They got $1000 each for the two panels. "Dad's quite clever, and he definitely knows it," Mrs Fraser said.
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