For the past few decades, Swiss-Canadian Marco Berera has walked by a particular tree in his Westwind neighbourhood in Richmond and a rush goes through him.
“Every time I see it I think about it,” he said.
It is his dream alphorn. And the tree has a branch perfect for this hobby craftsman.
For years, Berera has lay in wait.
Now, the Trumpeter Drive property in question is being developed and the homebuilder had attached a 48-hour notice to chop the tree down, which the city declared unhealthy and/or an impediment to the new home.
Berera called the builder who agreed to save the branch, which over the years has grown even plumper for an even bigger alphorn. As it stands, the branch is about 40 centimetres in diameter and five metres long, with a smooth curve to boot.
“It’s perfect,” exclaimed Berera, who at age 71 is still a very active wood carver, having recently finished an oversized wood model Swiss Army knife.
The Swiss-born Berera is a longtime Steveston resident who raised four boys after a career that started as a professional wood worker, building model mechanical parts. He finished his career as a composite parts inspector with Air Canada and is now a proud grandfather of five grandsons.
Berera said he’s aiming to build a four-metre alphorn as anything longer will produce a deeper sound. He said it will take him about 40 hours in his garage to carve out the horn.
It starts with initial cuts with a bandsaw, followed by cutting the wood lengthwise. He’ll then hollow out the piece to one-eighth of an inch and glue it back together.
Following an oil treatment on the inside and some laquer on the outside, Berera may choose to put a small painting of some flowers or a Swiss cross on the bottom, but the alphorn will mostly be a wood finish.
