FEAT OF AGED COUPLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 278, 24 November 1931, Page 3

FEAT OF AGED COUPLE

BUILDING A DWELLING. WIFE AS “CHIEF ENGINEER.” A wonderful achievement has just been completed at Salcombe, South Devon, by Mr. and Mrs. W. 11. Turpey, a 72-year-old coup’.e, who have built, almost entirely without assistance, a six-roomed bungalow for their own occupation, after 53 years of married life. It would give a totally wrong impression of the couple to say that they have built it as a retreat m which to spend the evening of their days. A spirit of youth has been in their labours, and while they have worked they have felt “like a newly-married couple making their first home,” as Air. Torpey said to a Daiiy Mail representative.

The bungalow stands on tho side of a hill, and so that it would withstand the force of winter gales, Air. and Mrs. Torpey constructed it with concrete blocks which they made themselves. Their fresh old faces wrinkled into jubilant smiles as they told tho story of their work. “The stone was ready to hand,” Air. Torpey. “XVe found it in our own field, which wo bought here at Stower Hill when I retired from my position of local gas manager about six years ago. Wo quarried the stone, crushed it in a granulator driven by an oil engine, and cast it in blocks ready for building. “Aly wife has done wonders. She has helped mo in all manner of ways, and I call her my ‘chief engineer.’ I had to get in a mason to help me with part of tho building, but otherwise my wife and I have done everything, although neither of us knew anything about building until we started the work. ’ ’ Airs. Torpey said that she had thoroughly enjoyed her tasks. “XX r c are wondcrfu'iy comfortable and very happy,’’ she said. Mr. Torpey estimates the entire cost of tho property at less than £4OO.