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Prisoners help finish church model
When talented model maker Eddie Penman passed away he left behind an intricate legacy.
Working away in his garden shed, Eddie had started work on a replica of St Andrew's Church, Leyland.
He carefully beavered away to contruct the detailed copy of the parish church.
But when the electrician died before he finished the piece his good friend Stanley Haydock was determined to see the work completed.
He said: "Eddie had worked really hard and his model was about 85% finished when he died. I spoke to his wife Elsie and asked if I could arrange for the model to be finished.
"We both agreed it would be a fitting tribute and something Eddie would have liked."
Eddie racked his brains to find someone with the skill to complete the model until his cousin suggested he contacted HMP Garth.
The prison officers agreed to take the model on and work with offenders to complete the work and two years later Stanley received a call to say the model was ready.
A team of around six offenders finished the work to an exceptionally high standard, ensuring the model was almost identical to the Leyland Church in Church Road.
Every stone, roof tile and drainpipe has been carefully positioned and painted and it has even been fitted with three working clocks.
Elsie said: "It is nice to see it finished – Eddie would have been pleased.
"He would have been putting lights and pews in it if he was here now – he always paid attention to the details.
"He would have been chuffed to bits – he took lots and lots of pictures and had certain ideas about how it was going to be finished. It is a lovely tribute to him."
The model will be displayed at the Leyland Museum and Exhibition Centre in January.
The museum is next door to St Andrew's Church on Church Road.
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 09 February 2012
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