Bored retiree creates supersized household objects
Retired Engineer’s Giant Household Creations
Steve Wainwright, a 62-year-old former electrician from Peterborough, has transformed his post-retirement downtime into a creative venture by crafting massive replicas of common household objects. His collection includes a towering pencil, an oversized clothes peg, and a humongous audio cassette, among other items, all displayed in his home. The idea, he explained, came from a simple desire to avoid monotony after leaving his job at the East of England Ambulance Service in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, in 2020.
The Scale of the Project
Wainwright admitted he initially lacked a precise mathematical approach, which led to the decision to scale up objects by a factor of ten. While some creations have been repurposed into usable furniture, like a coffee table made from a giant tape measure, others remain as decorative pieces. The projects, constructed from wood, metal, and plastic, have cost around £2,500 and required up to two weeks of dedicated work each.
“Men generally say my stuff is amazing, but women often ask, ‘Where does your wife keep it all?'”
Wainwright’s wife, Cat Thompson, 53, expressed pride in his efforts, noting that his hobby keeps him active rather than idle. “He puts his stuff mainly on the garage wall and we have a summer room where he keeps more of his stuff – but, it’s manageable. It mostly keeps him out of mischief,” she added, describing her husband’s enthusiasm for the oversized items. The plug, in particular, brought her joy, she said.
A Community Spotlight
His work has occasionally been showcased at local events, where he’s noticed a unique appeal among blind attendees. They enjoy feeling the larger versions of everyday objects alongside their normal-sized counterparts. The public’s favorite piece, according to Wainwright, is a five-foot-long HB 2 pencil, which offers a striking contrast to its usual size. This collection will be on display at the Feel the Force Day comic book convention in September at Peterborough Cathedral.
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