Hand Crafting a Legacy, The Story of Stan Herbert

Every life carries a story worth sharing. At Sundial Care Home we tell the story of Stanley Herbert (Stan), a true naturalist and beloved family member (resident) living here, whose journey has taken him from military service in Libya, across the oceans to New Zealand, through decades of farming, and into a lifelong passion for craftsmanship and nature. Stan’s story offers a glimpse into a life shaped by fearlessness, dedication, skilled hands, and the love for his family and the great outdoors.

A Wartime Childhood

Stan Herbert was born on 27 October 1937 in Beckenham, Greater London, and spent his childhood in Penge, Southeast London, with his parents and his sister, Grace. His earliest memories are set against the backdrop of wartime Britain, when fear and uncertainty were part of daily life.

Stan recalls one day while walking with his mother, a buzz bomb tore through the sky, passing over the rooftops before exploding nearby. This harrowing experience left a lasting impression on young Stan, and ever since, the distinctive sound of buzz bombs in films and documentaries has stayed with him. During the war, Stan and Grace were also sent to stay with a family in Sheffield, to escape the chaos back home in London.

School Years and a Sandwich Shared

At school, Stan showed a natural ability in the water, earning his lifesaving certificate while still young, a skill he would put to use as a lifeguard in the years that followed. It was around this time that he grew closer to his sweetheart, Maureen. Their schools were divided, boys on one side, girls on the other, but that didn’t keep them apart; as they would sit and share sandwiches through the railings. It seems fate had a hand in this, as their paths had already crossed long before, when their mothers would stop to chat while pushing their prams along Penge High Street as babies.

A Young Hero

When leaving his education, Stan had hoped to pursue a career in carpentry, but his grandfather who was a joiner advised against this, saying there was “No skill in it, it’s all done with machines”. Carpentry was something Stan would think about in later life. For now, his first job was working with a photographer on New Oxford Street in London.

One day, while eating his lunch in the attic of the photographer’s shop, he smelled smoke coming from the building next door, it was on fire! Realising there were workers inside the attic space, he quickly climbed through the skylight and ran across the rooftops to get them to safety. This act of bravery earned Stan, the “Young Hero” a mention in the evening press, and a thrilling story he would later share with his children. “There are plenty of things we could say about Dad, but one thing that always struck us was that he was fearless,” they shared.

Despite this thrilling experience, Stan felt restless and soon realised the photography trade wasn’t for him. He longed for the outdoors and eventually left the city behind, taking a farming job in Hayes, West London.

The Military and a Dog Named Sly

Stan was later called up for National Service and posted just outside Benghazi, Libya. He served as a military dog trainer, working with his trusted dog, Sly. In this post, they trained dogs to do almost everything, though their main role was detecting mines. One of the most unusual exercises Stan recalled involved “anti-sniper dogs.” He explained that while out walking, if the dog suddenly sat down, he would instantly “hit the deck” and look between the dog’s ears, this was how they identified the direction of a sniper.

Stan enjoyed his time in the military, being around others his age was a difference to his previous jobs where he said he often felt isolated, so he decided to stay an extra year after completing his two years of service, allowing him to continue sending money home to his mother.

Maureen and the One-Way Ticket

Whilst visiting home on leave, the spark between sweethearts, Stan and Maureen was reignited. One day, he pulled up to her house on his motorbike to return a spanner he had borrowed from her father. Maureen was impressed and commented on his motorbike, to which Stan offered to take her for a spin. This moment is marked as the beginning of their love story, as the pair were inseparable ever since.

The couple married in June, 1961, and not long after, they made the decision to emigrate to New Zealand, where farm workers were needed. Stan, a naturalist with a deep love for the land, was drawn to the promise of wide-open spaces, so the couple gave up their jobs to start their new life abroad.

However, after around six months in New Zealand, Maureen began to miss home. Stan reassured her they would return to England one day, but explained they would need time to save money, (as he had only bought a one-way ticket!). In that time the family grew, welcoming their sons Michael in January 1963, Peter in May 1964 and David in February 1966.

Life on the Move, Farming Across England

When the couple returned to England with their sons, Stan was naturally drawn back to farming and found work mainly with cattle, where he built a reputation as a skilled herdsman and stockman. Life on the farms meant the family rarely stayed in one place for long, moving from county to county. Around this period in their lives, they welcomed their daughter Lindsay in March 1969, before making the decision to settle down in Devon.

Once Stan accepted a job with Clinton Devon Estates, the family packed up for the long journey down South. “We had two adults, two cats, a dog, plus four children all in a Mini, it was very snug! As children we found this amusing,” his family shared. It was during their years in Devon that Stan and Maureen also welcomed their youngest daughter, Jessica, in May 1977.

A Craftsman at Heart

When health issues unfortunately forced Stan to step back from farming, life came full circle. He found himself working part-time in a joiner’s workshop in Colaton Raleigh, ironically the same work he had his heart set on when leaving school. Stan had always been into woodwork, though he dabbled briefly in making contemporary furniture, he soon turned away from the modern styles and settled into a more “common-sense aesthetic”.

“One of my dad’s super powers was common sense,” his son Michael recalled. “He made a dining table out of scraps, it was designed for six but could fit ten comfortably, somehow the height was just right for all of us. It was supremely practical, no planning and measuring. He was recycling and upcycling way before it was trendy.”

Life in Devon allowed Stan to embrace everything he loved, woodwork, gardening, the outdoors, and passing the love of nature onto his children. “If someone suggested that a fallen tree needed to be removed, we would all go out to help get it,” they all remembered. “We would all have our roles and the tree would be taken back home to chop up for firewood.” Stan was known not only for his hard work, but also his strength, a trait he inherited from his own father. “He would do standard strong man stunts for us when we were children, like twisting an apple in two, or cracking walnuts with his bare hands!” they shared.

Overall, Stan has dedicated many years to woodworking, also founding a carving group with a friend over 25 years ago that is still active today!

Life at Sundial Care Home

Now in his retirement at Sundial Care Home near Sidmouth, Devon, Stan is supported to continue enjoying the things he loves most, as the home’s three-acre gardens, regular Creative Minds crafting sessions, and animal visits allow him to stay connected to his passions. Stan is a regular at the home’s gardening club and enjoys socialising, “Stan is truly green fingered, and sows’ seeds and pots on seedlings for us that flourish in our garden” shared Administrator, Mikyla. Sundial has also planted his willow fox, a piece he wove himself, which now stands as a feature in the garden, and several of his woodcarvings are displayed in the home.

His daughter Lindsay, who has a strong relationship with the home, often joins in with activities during her visits, spending time chatting with other family members, and Jessica brings along her dog and has helped organise Shetland pony visits for everyone to enjoy. Michael, a gifted artist has created several portraits of his dad that hang proudly in the home. David regularly visits from North Devon with his wife Belinda, and they often talk about the woodworking projects they have worked on together, a shared interest that continues to bond them. Throughout the years, Stan has also had the pleasure of welcoming nine grandchildren!

The family are very much a part of the Sundial Care Home community, and Stan’s legacy lives on through his displayed crafts, the life he is supported to lead today, and through his children. Their shared creativity and love of animals reflect the interests that have shaped his life. Fearless, practical, and family-focused, Stan has crafted a legacy with his own two hands.

His children summed it up best, “Dad is a true naturalist, with a huge gift for understanding animals and the land. He’s a top human being — and we all agree.” If you would like to learn more about Sundial Care Home, please visit https://www.sundialcare.com/activities-in-care/

click here for more details or to contact Sundial Care Home