The Kieran Binnie Memorial Fund for Craft

The Kieran Binnie Fund is a memorial fundraiser to celebrate Kieran's life and craft by supporting people with their craft and mental wellbeing. After discussions between Kieran’s wife Rachel, Meghan and Chris at Lost Art Press, and JoJo at Pathcarvers, this fundraiser commemorates his passion for craft and community.

 

Kieran Binnie, known online for his blog and instagram Over the Wireless, was driven and talented: a formidable combination. It made him excel in his work as a solicitor specialising in construction law, and also in all his hobbies. “Hobbies” feels like too casual a word for what were Kieran’s great passions of music and woodworking. Having barely touched a hammer or chisel before, when he finished law school he took a few months off to attend the celebrated Totnes School of Guitarmaking, where he learned how to build guitars entirely by hand. His passion for woodwork led him to writing for many specialist publications in the UK and the USA, and he was counted as a regular contributor to Furniture and Cabinetmaking magazine.

 

 

 

 

Kieran made friends wherever he went – at work, in woodworking circles, in undergraduate music societies, in his postgraduate forays into the martial art jiu jitsu – and since he died I have received so many kind and loving words about him from all over the globe. One colleague wrote: “The things which Kieran taught me on work trips went beyond legal skills and the basics of woodworking - his wisdom taught me an immense amount about life itself.”

Despite all his talents, and the demands on his time from work and hobbies, family was always at the heart of Kieran’s life. He was a devoted son to Anne and David and brother to Erica. He was the kindest, most loving and supportive husband to Rachel. And most of all, he was the mostly deeply attached father to his daughter Grace.

 

Kieran's passion for the woodworking community makes supporting Pathcarvers a natural way to honour him and build a legacy that fits the strapline of Over the Wireless: Craft and Integrity.


Some words about Kieran from Christopher Schwarz of Lost Art Press


I first met Kieran in 2014 at a woodworking course I was teaching at Warwickshire College, and we immediately bonded over our love of music and handwork. What was most fascinating about the guy, however, was his passion for something I’d never given any thought to: building a woodworking community.

Most woodworkers toil and suffer in solitude. Kieran spent a remarkable amount of energy reaching out to other woodworkers to bring them together.

At the 2014 course, Kieran and another student organized evening activities for all of us at interesting pubs around town. After the class, Kieran continued to reach out to people in the class and other woodworkers all over the world. Making connections. Spreading information and education. 

In fact, after his death in May 2021, I was shocked at all the woodworkers he knew personally. People he had reached out to over the world to both compliment and encourage. 



I feel certain that Kieran would be thrilled at the work that Pathcarvers does – bringing people together to carve spoons, share stories and help one another through difficult times. 

I so wish I could go back in time and take one of these Pathcarvers courses with Kieran, make some shavings, argue one last time about which Modest Mouse album is the best and laugh until it hurt. While that’s not possible, I can help make it possible for others. And that’s why we have signed on to be an ongoing supporter of this fund that will help Pathcarvers reach out to others, make connections and share a kind and helpful word.



About Pathcarvers

 

Pathcarvers is an organisation that uses craft to support people with their mental and physical health, and to create positive social change. This fund will enable Pathcarvers to support makers in the crafting journey as well as with their mental health and access needs.

 

Currently Pathcarvers run classes and groups that give people a space to make and talk. Pathcarvers aim to make craft as accessible as it can be, regardless of background and individual needs. This fund will stay open, and the more raised the more Pathcarvers will be able to do.

Donations will also help Pathcarvers dedicated mental health support structure for craftspeople, extra tuition for crafters, more community courses for more people, help for people who need things like travel to craft tuition and to help people further their journey in mental wellness.