A retired butcher is proving a cut above by restoring and decorating garden ornaments, re-gnoming them and raising vital funds for charity.
Ali Dent receives donations and then gives them some TLC – making repairs and applying acrylic paint and varnish – before selling his handiwork for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and Tapping House, in Hillington, near King’s Lynn.
Last year alone he raised in the region of £8,000, which he split between his two favourite causes.
Recent examples of his work include elephant, rabbit, sheepdog and cow ornaments, as well as a Minion from the Despicable Me films and even a Tottenham Hotspur gnome.
“It gives me an enormous amount of pleasure,” said kind-hearted Ali, who ran AJ Dent Butchers, at Hilgay, near Downham Market, for more than 40 years.
“I love having a brush in my hand and enjoy the feeling of giving something a new lease of life.
“A friend, Fred Lyons, uses clay to repair or replace missing parts, and then I paint and varnish them.
“People come to me with a specific request, or they’ll just donate an unwanted gnome and let me do what I want with it.
“I then sell them online, and I’ve also just started opening my old shop, where they’re on display, for a couple of hours on the first Saturday of every month (from 10am). The public are very welcome to pop in and see what I’ve been up to.”
Every penny raised after costs is shared between EACH and Tapping House.
Anyone wishing to donate or buy an ornament or gnome can pop into Ali’s shop, find Alistair Dent on Facebook or call him on 07979 370781. He also welcomes donations of acrylic paint, yacht varnish and PVA.
Meanwhile, Ali, 67, is also organising another of his popular book sales – something he has been doing for more than 40 years. Cousin Des and his wife, Lesley, have been helping for the last 20.
The books range from children’s stories to fact and fiction, covering all genres in between.
“I’d encourage anyone interested in reading to come along,” he said.
“Lesley does the lions’ share of the sorting and organising everything into categories. I can guarantee bargains galore.”
The book sale is taking place at Hilgay Village Hall between 10am and 3pm on Sunday, 17th May.
