Two spirited pensioners from Gloucester have transformed a spare room into a captivating 6-foot-long model village using only leftover craft materials. Jane Parry and her friend Sylvia Baxter, both in their 80s, spent nearly a year crafting their detailed miniature community, affectionately named the “Odd-bit Village.”
As members of a local miniatures craft group in Churchdown, just outside Gloucester, Jane and Sylvia initially began their project as casual Thursday morning gatherings. What started with a single cottage quickly expanded into a full-scale village complete with a pub, school, post office, cottages, a bus stop, and even miniature figures and cars.
The duo put their creativity and resourcefulness to work, using base card, air-drying clay, and fine timber salvaged from their craft boxes. Each building is unique: Sylvia crafted the pub while Jane focused on the church, both taking pride in their handiwork. Tiny details bring the village to life, from children playing in the schoolyard to a wedding party outside the church.
READ MORE: Update on Injured M5 Motorcyclist Following Six-Hour Crash Closure
READ MORE: Labour Faces Deep Divisions in South West Over Starmer’s Leadership
Even the tiniest tools, like tweezers, proved indispensable in assembling pieces roughly two inches tall. With space running out in Jane’s spare room, where her husband built a dedicated craft nook, the pair anticipate wrapping up the village, though they’re already dreaming about their next project—perhaps an old-fashioned market hall.
The “Odd-bit Village” will be on public display at the Coffee Collective shop in Churchdown on Saturday, May 16. The café owner has generously offered the space so locals can admire the handiwork. Later this year, Jane and Sylvia will showcase their village at Miniatura, one of the country’s largest miniature modelling fairs, held at the NAEC in Stoneleigh near Coventry. For two friends who started simply sharing coffee and chats, their hobby has blossomed into something truly special.