FALMOUTH DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY

Ten years ago at the age of 80, John Day joined the Book Conservation Team of Falmouth DFAS Heritage Volunteers at the National Maritime Museum’s Bartlett Library, which houses a collection of some 19,000 maritime volumes, many rare and valuable.

John’s skill in technical design stood him in good stead as he worked on creating customised internal and external bookshoes, supports for the safe storage of fragile and delicate books and ledgers. His design so impressed the book conservation trainer for the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts that it is now included as a recommended technique in the national Book Conservation Training Programme undertaken by all NADFAS volunteers. John has also designed and built customised lidded document boxes and magazine racks.

His dedication and skill have now been recognised with the prestigious NADFAS Marsh Award, presented to members throughout the UK who have made an outstanding contribution to crafts and heritage conservation.

John was presented with his award at the June meeting of Falmouth DFAS at the Princess Pavilion by Heritage Volunteer representative Maggie Letch, who had received it on his behalf at the NADFAS AGM in London. Now aged 90, John is planning to take life a little easier but will carry on supporting Falmouth DFAS and the Bartlett Library by continuing to work on bookshoe and box construction at his home in Coverack.

Falmouth DFAS will take a two month summer break, with a new programme starting on September 16. For more information see fdfas.org.uk.