Wilf Hutchinson ‘Squirrelman’
Wilf ‘Squirrelman’ Hutchinson (1936-2013) is an ex Mouseman craftsman who started his apprenticeship with Robert Thompson in 1951, establishing a great friendship with their famed master carver Stan Dodds, a close relationship which endured for the remainder of both their lives.
Displaying entrepreneurial flair and fully trained as a craftsman, he established Squirrel Furniture in 1957 in his home village of Husthwaite, near Thirsk. Utilising the techniques and craftsman skills acquired at Robert Thompson’s, he adopted a squirrel as his signature carving and developed a thriving family business which has endured to this day. His son Trevor was taught carpentry skills by Wilf from an early age. Trevor also trained independently as an upholsterer and continues the family business alone following Wilf’s death in 2013, producing fine adzed solid oak furniture and collectables for discerning clients.
