About Six Anchor Forge

The name comes from one evening when I forged six anchors. I served in the Royal Navy during the Falklands War, and my ship HMS Plymouth was attacked, bombed and damaged on 8th June 1982. On 8th June 2024, to take my mind off the memories that come flooding back on that date every year, I forged six remembrance anchors for some of my old shipmates. Hence the name Six Anchor Forge.

I served in Marine Engineering in the RN for 24 years, then with BP for 16 years. I moved into teaching and assessing engineering apprentices and have been doing that for six years. I started blacksmithing two years ago when my son asked if we could convert part of an old stable into a workshop. My son Lucas decided he wanted to do woodwork, I decided on metalwork. I started with a small LPG gas forge and a cheap anvil. I fell in love with blacksmithing and have gradually built up my workshop and blacksmithing tools, many of which I have made myself.

I now have three different forges, including a solid fuel (coke/coal) forge, three anvils and a fully kitted out blacksmith’s / fabrication workshop. I prefer to do small artistic jobs and have been building up my skill levels. I have made tongs, hammers, fullers, axes and will be making an ornate wrought iron garden gate in the near future. I usually make flowers, coat hooks, bottle openers, anchors, copperwork or any type of art project.

I have completed two blacksmithing courses with a qualified blacksmith and plan to do further courses in the new year.

I plan to retire from work and move into blacksmithing full-time. I’m 67 years old and still full of life and have a very creative mind. I intend to work hand in hand with my 16-year-old son, who is working hard in his own woodwork shop while studying for his GCSE exams.

We live in a very rural and beautiful area of the Northumberland National Park and Dark Skies Park.