10-Year-Old and Grandfather Establish Woodworking Business

A 10-year-old boy and his grandfather have collaborated to launch a luxury woodworking enterprise. Alfie and Roy initiated the Wally Boy Workshop at the start of the year. They have since sold over £1,000 worth of high-quality chopping boards, all produced from Roy’s garage workshop in Wallingford. Alfie stated that any profits he earns are directed into his savings, which he intends to use eventually to establish a water source for communities in need in Africa. With five football-mad brothers, Alfie mentioned he always sought to pursue something distinct and began assisting in his grandfather’s workshop when he was just four years old. While Roy manages the heavy machinery, Alfie is responsible for the sanding and oiling processes. He has also commenced learning about the commercial aspects of the operation. The duo is now anticipating a significant boost after a University of Oxford college contacted them, requesting the creation of items from a fallen tree located on its grounds. Alfie, who hopes to earn a living from woodworking in his later years, expressed grand ambitions for his future. “Eventually I want to build water sources for people in Africa,” he said. Roy, who operates the Thames Salon barbers in Wallingford, noted that Alfie spends as much time as possible in the workshop. “I have Wednesdays and Sundays off, and he’s here every Wednesday when he’s off school and every Sunday,” he said. “His four brothers are all very sporty and Alfie was getting left behind so I felt [I wanted to] offer him another avenue.” Alfie conveyed that engaging in woodwork with his grandfather made him feel “less stressed,” while Roy affirmed that time spent with his talented grandson was valuable. “For me, it’s a pleasure,” he said, adding: “He’ll remember this for the rest of his life, won’t he?” You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.