Auckland Memorials Master Masons

04/09/2025

Across the last 4 decades I’ve worked for somewhere in the region of approx 6000 families, (I guess), I’ve commemorated the lives of so many people from so many communities cities across northern England and further afield, I’ve introduced a lot of artistic fabric into the burial grounds of just about everywhere in the North East but none have been as challenging as this one, a memorial for two of the greatest humans who ever walked Gods Green Earth.

Every single word carved on this stone is true, you couldn’t help but love the pair of them, I’ve met many souls in this world while I’ve been here but I’ve never met any who were of this calibre. Kind doesn’t come into it, they were the real thing.

Callum and I finally erected this beautiful ruby red and gold tribute to the centre of our universe today, it’s by far the longest inscription I’ve ever done, 5 years in the making. Mam was the first of my loved ones I lost in the pandemic but her stone has taken the longest to make.

It’s not finished yet, still more to add but at least the main stone is now in place.

I couldn’t have done this without our Callum, I know Mam and Dad, Callum’s dad and our Bazz will all of been there with us today smiling at him and feeling very proud.

(Sorry it took a while Mam and Dad, it’s hard to carve wi tears in your eyes. I miss and love you both so much, we both do, so very much.

We’ll be back with everything to finish the job and do the landscaping soon enough.

You’ve got the best stone in the churchyard.

You are loved. )

(Bazz, your stone is next, it’s on its way mate.)

Headstone is modelled here by Callum Hopper in size 6’2 and big feet, lol

04/08/2025

I love it when my work makes people happy.

01/08/2025

I first became friends with Mr Davison and his family many years ago when they commissioned me to create a beautiful memorial for his wife them some years later they kindly asked me to create another beautiful stone for his mother both in St James churchyard at Coundon. I came to regard the Davisons as personal friends, they are always a pleasure to work with.
Sadly I was commissioned again by Mr Davison and his Daughter to create this very beautiful and incredibly unique memorial for his son, shown here with amr Davision himself givi giving it the final once over.
This is the first time I’ve ever carved a drill.

One of the pl assures of my work is the great people I get to know and become friends with.
Always greatful.
Namaste.

23/06/2025

It means so much when you receive a letter of thanks like this, it really does.
Such lovely folk to work for, I am very greatful.
Namaste.

16/06/2025

I’ve worked for Mrs Heslington for a long time now, she is the nicest person you could ever meet.
When I erected her husbands stone some years ago it was in the winter, she came to the cemetery and brought the most beautiful box of biscuits and an exceptional bottle of wine as a token of thanks which I appreciated immensely.
When I erected this stone for her daughter last week, once more she came to the cemetery with a beautiful box of biscuits and another exceptional bottle of wine as a token of thanks.
We have known each other for a number of years now and to me she is definately a friend and a lovely one at that.
It means so much when people go out of their way to express gratitude and I’m humbled and incredibly grateful.

A beautiful, neat, tidy and very elegant classic English ogee top memorial in black granite finished in gold with a simple floral decal. I’m very proud of this one.
Namaste.

18/03/2025

03/12/2024

Means so much when people go out of their way to say thank you

10/09/2024

Such a lovelly lady to work for.

04/07/2024

I love my work and have always been grateful that I have such an ancient craft, I love every stone I work on but now and then I work for people, on a stone, in a place which are just special and none more so than this one which was erected down in Yorkshire today.

The ride out through the lush green lanes was a day out in itself and we appreciated the beauty of North Yorkshire in the landscape, the lanes, the fields, the cottages and all the twists and turns but for us one of the greatest hits was the small honesty cart on the junction-we stopped and bought twenty quids worth, huge eggs of various shades in colour, cabbage, gorgeous looking potatoes and the most tempting and beautiful red jam, so well presented in the old way with a cover held tight with an elastic band. I honestly feel like I could live there, I love Yorkshire very much, very, very much (I have heritage in Whitby and Grinton, might be int DNA) but I genuinely feel I could be very happy in that area.

The churchyard is really beautiful, what a really nice place to be laid to rest and for loved ones to come and visit. Today in the soft sunshine amidst the gentle breeze I think I found my heaven, I say that sincerely. The soil is beautiful there and the energy feels gentle. And the pubs that way look inviting I have to say.

As much as I’m so proud to see the stone now in situ doing its job I’m sad to see it leave my workshop, I think I will have to have a ride out once in a while just to call in at Alne, it’s become one of my ‘places’.

The Lancaster family have been so nice to work with, so polite and courteous and incredibly patient in the face of adversity, Sharon who commissioned the stone who I have found to be very artistic helped with the design so I can’t take full credit as she was a great help and had a lot of Input, we went back and forth between each other many times and this along with being granted the appropriate amount of time to work on the stone as opposed to being rushed as I sometimes am really shows in the finished piece which I’m incredibly proud of, this was how it should be, timescale wasn’t an issue, quality was.

Im very grateful.

Namaste.

22/04/2024

It’s a great feeling when you make someone happy with your work.
I recently completed a commission for Mr Collins from Darlington who was an absolute gentleman to work for and he was delighted with the work I carried out.
Really nice fellow.
Namaste.

02/03/2024

On Saturday, two young men, aged about 12ish came into Bluebirds (our tearooms) and asked for a table for two.
They ordered an iced latte and a green tea, and asked what I would recommend on the menu.
After they had eaten their meal, I was chatting to them, and they told me that they come out for lunch together every 3 weeks or so, and that they were looking for the best place in town to eat, and so far this was the best.
They were so polite and proper little gentlemen.
After they left I found this note along with a tip, my heart just melted.
Credit: Laura Sheffield
Also read 👇
https://levelup-flow.com/postman-brings-cheer-to-people-with-funny-costumes-during-lockdown/

02/03/2024

"Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness." - Seneca