Surprise 80th birthday celebration for blacksmith Robin Butler at Ryedale Folk Museum (From Gazette & Herald)

Surprise 80th birthday celebration for blacksmith Robin Butler at Ryedale Folk Museum

11:51am Wednesday 31st March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

LEGENDRY blacksmith Robin Butler had a special surprise when he arrived at Ryedale Folk Museum to demonstrate his craft to visitors at the weekend – for staff had laid on a celebration to mark his 80th birthday.

Robin, whose career as a smithy began in 1944, has been showing the skills of his craft at the museum for 45 years.

Well-known in his home town of Kirkbymoorside, he started his long career at Wilf Dowson’s famous Kirk Forge in the market town, where he stayed for 25 years before moving to Russell’s Agricultural Engineers and later Micro Metalsmiths.

“It must be in my blood because I have just discovered a member of my family was a blacksmith back in 1851,” he said.

Over the years, his work has been featured in many churches and homes, and even St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where he helped make the railings around the memorial chapel to King George V1.

Robin is also a photographer and local historian, being a founder member of Kirkbymoorside’s History Society and Camera Club, of which he is now a life member. He is also a life member of the town’s Family History Group.

Now, a book on his life and experiences has been written and is due to be published shortly.

Museum director Mike Benson said: “Robin is a wonderful asset to the museum. He always attracts a large crowd of people, especially youngsters, explaining how he works the red-hot metal.”