Inverness craftsman in stone is thanked for long and expert service to undertakers John Fraser & Son
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An Inverness craftsman has been recognised for his "monumental" long service to the same company.
Drew Wheeler (60) has racked up 30 years as a memorial sculptor with Inverness funeral undertakers John Fraser & Son Ltd, designing, engraving and erecting hundreds of headstones for graves all over the north of Scotland.
And before he joined that company, he served 14 years with another headstone business, John Milton's who then had yards in the Carse and then Glenurquhart Road.
No-one could ever accuse Drew of lacking a work ethic.
Aged 16 he left school on a Thursday, and started his new trade as an apprentice on the Monday.
"Basically I had a long weekend then it was straight into work," he said. "My father knew someone at John Milton's and suggested it might be a good job for me, and I thought 'Why not?'
" I served my apprenticeship and 14 years later moved to John Fraser & Son where I have had 30 happy years. And I am sure there are a few good years left in me yet! I love this job."
And he joked: "They'll probably have to take me out of here in a box!"
His three decades were celebrated by the John Fraser & Son team in splendid style with a party and meal at 5-star Ness Walk hotel where Drew cut an amazing black cake, in the shape of a headstone of course, (made by 3D Cakes, Edinburgh) watched by proud wife Roz and sons Cameron and Euan.
Reflecting on his long experience helping to ensure that the memory of the late departed will live on, Drew said that back when he started out it was still the days of cutting the stone lettering and decoration with hammer and chisel.
"It was very skilled. We did everything by hand back then," he said. "Then computers came in and we have programmes and templates we use to guide the machinery that cuts the stone, but there is still a lot of care and skill required, and of course checking for accuracy.
"A sandblasting machine does much of the work now, following the computer programme to get great precision.
"Back in the day I have seen some headstones where the name was spelled wrongly, but it has never happened to me thank goodness. It is a case of check and then double check.
"The computer lets us do a lot more on the stone such as designs, different fonts and even colours."
At first he also went out to cemeteries all over with the erecting team, but now he is largely based back in Inverness with the hi-tech equipment.
Drew said: "Back in the day you actually went out to cemeteries all over to put any additional names on with hammer and chisel or carry out repairs. I used to enjoy that as it often took you to lovely locations. I enjoyed the peace of these places."
Granite is still the most used stone, but marble and slate are requested too.
The granite used to be quarried in Aberdeen, but now it is imported from places such as China and India, all cut to size and ready for the wording to be applied.
Vicki Fraser proprietor of the fourth generation company established in 1884, said: "We can’t begin to estimate how many memorials Drew has designed, engraved and erected in Highland cemeteries over the decades.
"His attention to detail is second to none, and we are really proud to have him as part of the John Fraser & Son family.
"Congratulations and thank you Drew, we are lucky to have you."
