A family man who was described as ‘the foundation of his family’ has been remembered following his passing before Christmas.
Born in South Ayrshire, Scotland and moving down south at the age of five, John McCardle was well known in the Finchampstead area having lived there for more than 40 years. Becoming a master stone mason, he was described as a real gentleman at his funeral and the kind of man whose glass was always half full.
He met his wife at the age of 20 in Henley and they were married at Caversham Church in 1983. They had two sons, Adam and Paul who he was so proud of, and he was a familiar sight in the village driving his Landrover caked in mud and wearing his flat cap.
The Mallet, Chisel, dummy, scriber and cox comb are just some of the 100+ tools which go to make up the kit of a stone mason. John was one of those few people to take up the trade. Back in the 1970s he saw an advert in the local paper and started on a four-year apprenticeship to learn this trade at AF Jones in Reading where he worked for several years.
John then decided to venture out on his own and built up a successful business which he ran for more than 40 years. In the 1980s he decided to take on his own apprentice, Steven Rumble of Tilehurst, who was trained under John’s watchful eye to become a fully qualified stone mason too and they worked together for nearly 20 years.
In the early years John concentrated on restoration projects. He worked on many of his local churches of Finchampstead, Barkham, Arborfield and further afield too.
At Highclere Castle he carried out hand-carvings and mouldings to the new pinnacles that he replaced. At the BBC in Caversham he replaced many of the old crumbling balustrades. At All Saints Church, Wokingham, he rebuilt the gable end of the church, hand carved new copings and made the new cross all with the help of Steven. Other projects included Royal Berkshire Hospital, Wellington College and Heckfield House.
During his memorial, his son spoke about how he had a head for heights, taking down and rebuilding a church steeple, working in all weathers.
Opting for what was quite an unusual career, it utilised a unique set of skills including imagination, creativity, physical strength and patience. “He was always chiselling and grinding to make masterpieces, emerging from his workshop in clouds of dust.”
John also specialised in bespoke stone fireplaces that were hand-carved with intricate fine detailing to his customers’ requirements. But it was his later years where most people will probably remember him. He was always there to help bereaved families make the difficult decision regarding a memorial for their loved one. It was John’s empathy, compassion, patience and understanding that gave him his reputation throughout his local community and beyond.
Away from work, early on he discovered a love for shooting, first taking up archery and then clay pigeon shooting before joining the Royal Berkshire Shooting School as a part-time instructor for many years.
He loved reading, cooking, and travelling, taking inspiration from his travels to experiment in the kitchen. The couple ventured to many countries including Alaska, the Caribbean and Egypt – a destination that proved to be heaven for a stone mason as well as seeing Tutankhamun’s tomb. But it was South Africa that stole his heart.
He will be forever in his family’s memories and sadly missed by so many, but his lifetime’s work will continue to live on for generations to appreciate in the future.
We also paid tribute to John McCardle in January 2024 My Wokingham Newspaper here
