Wood carver Rob rescues nativity

The wood carving of the donkey with the figures of Mary and Joseph

THE hand-crafted nativity scene brought all the way from the Holy Land had everything . . . except the lowly donkey.

The Rev Jackie Calow, a member of the Saddleworth Team Ministry, visited Israel five years ago as part of a pilgrimage and returned with figures of Joseph and Mary carved in olive wood.

She uses them each year in schools to dramatise the couple’s search for lodgings in Bethlehem. But the scene was incomplete without a donkey - until Jackie enlisted the help of Councillor Rob Knotts, a member of her congregation at Holy Trinity Church, Dobcross, who carved the animal from olive wood.

Rob said: “I do a fair amount of wood carving but this time I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. I said Jackie could only have it if I was happy with it!”

A delighted Rev Calow said: “There are so many shops selling carvings but I just couldn’t find a donkey to match the figures. My scene always had a part missing - but Rob has done a fantastic job.