A matchstick model of York Minster has found its new home less than half a mile away from the real deal.
Made up of 80,000 matchsticks, the piece was painstakingly constructed by 87-year-old Clive Holmes earlier this year.
It’s now proudly placed in the shop window of Totally Awesome, on Colliergate.
Clive, a retired fireman from Durham, spent two years constructing the 6ft model using a photo he’d taken of the cathedral.
He was inspired while in York to see his granddaughter.
Once the model was complete, Clive’s wife requested it was removed from their home as it was taking up too much room.
Their daughter, Sue Tonder, launched an appeal on Facebook to find it a permanent place.
She told YorkMix how Clive had threatened to torch the matchstick model if they didn’t find one come Bonfire Night, so time was of the essence.
The response on Facebook was amazing, with the post gaining more than 2,000 reactions.
There were suggestions of it going to York Minster, but it was decided for the piece to be auctioned to raise money for charity.
Totally Awesome placed the highest bid and secured the piece, which Sue was pleased about as they had already registered their interest in the model.
“Totally Awesome had been in touch previously, and said they’d like it in the shop window. But I thought, it’s six foot by four foot, that’s never going to get in,” Sue said.
She thought to keep it fair, a charity auction would be the easiest way.
“It was lovely that it stayed locally. I think the concern was with it going to auction, that it was going to end up in the States or something like that, which would have been fine as it was for charity. But the extra win was the fact that it stayed in York.” Sue added.
The money from the auction has been donated to Harbour, a charity working against domestic violence and abuse.
Sue has worked around domestic abuse in the past, and has previously connected with that particular charity last year at Christmas.
“I was just at a wreath making class with a friend last year, and the guy who was standing next to me was chatting away about a charity that he and his kids donate toys to each year.
“And as it was, Dad had last year said that he wanted all his Christmas presents donated to a charity.” Sue revealed.
After constructing models for over 40 years, Sue revealed that the Minster may sadly be Clive’s last.
“He’s taking on smaller projects now, he’s in the middle of doing a galleon at the minute. He said it himself, it’s normally a few years project. He’s 87 and I don’t think he quite wants to commit to a few years,” she said.
With the removal of a door frame and the help of a local artist, the model has been assembled in Totally Awesome’s shop window for all to see.
Make sure to go and check out Clive’s work on Colliergate.