Stone and wood crafts

• Published date: 03 April 2024
• Publication title: West Coast Messenger, The

In his heyday, with wife Maureen in charge of sales and marketing, John would supply 100 pate' boards at a time to high market retail stores including Ballentynes and Living and Giving from Queenstown to Auckland

At his peak, he could make 55 pate' boards a day.

The Stones say they have led a happy and diverse life in their nearly 53 years of marriage, all spent living in Westport.

The couple hit it off with a chance meeting when Westport-born Maureen (nee' Bruning) was holidaying in Auckland.

"She was on her big OE (overseas adventure)!" laughed John.

He completed his apprenticeship as a builder and a few months later, followed Maureen to Westport where his future father-in-law secured him a job at H J Neilsen Builders.

Twelve months later, John started as a builder in the marine division of the Ministry of Transport, which is now the Palmerston Street premises of Rea Engineering. He continued there for 16 years.

The couple then spent seven 'full-on' years as owners of the Millhouse Dairy. They bought an old villa in Russell Street which John proceeded to totally refurbish in his 'spare' time.

During this time, John also...