Restored rocking horses bring back childhood memories

2 hours ago

Lili Sheppard,in Bethersdenand

Tanya Gupta,South East

News image — Marc and Tony Stevenson have celebrated their 70th birthdays and 44 years in business

BBC Two people pose among a collection of rocking horses in a showroom. One man is seated on a grey rocking horse mounted on a wooden stand, while the other stands beside a black-and-white striped rocking horse. The room contains numerous rocking horses of different colours and designs. The walls are painted red and display framed photographs, certificates and memorabilia. — Marc and Tony Stevenson have celebrated their 70th birthdays and 44 years in business

The twin brothers behind a company making rocking horses in Kent have said they keep a tissue box to hand as customers get emotional about recapturing their childhoods.

Marc Stevenson and Tony Stevenson, founders of Stevenson Brothers Rocking Horses, both recently turned 70, having established the company on their 26th birthdays in 1982.

"It's such an emotional thing to be involved in," said Marc.

Based in a workshop in Bethersden, near Ashford, the company has created bespoke rocking horses for customers around the world and restored antique models for families wanting to preserve childhood memories.

The brothers have also created rocking horses modelled on real horses, including Magna Carta and Barbers Shop, both racehorses owned by Queen Elizabeth II.

Tony said they restore a lot of old rocking horses for customers.

"People love it because that's how they remember seeing it and then, 30 years later, it's all worn out and everything. We put it back to the way it used to be."

Marc added that customers often become tearful when they come in and see their horse as it takes them back to being a child.

"Boom - out comes the tissue box," he said.

"Well, actually I cry a lot too with people. It's such an emotional thing to be involved in."

"I mean we're making pieces of art. These are sculptures."

A workshop is filled with rocking horses of different sizes and designs. In the foreground is a large white and brown painted horse mounted on a wooden rocking frame with a saddle, bridle and stirrups. Behind it are several other horses, including a dark brown model and a larger black and white horse. Wooden shelving along one wall holds horse parts, wooden components and folders. Framed certificates and photographs hang on the far wall. — Rocking horses in various stages of manufacture fill the workshop

The brothers marked their 70th birthdays last month with a lunch at Boys Hall in Willesborough, where some of the company's earliest promotional photographs were taken after the firm was first set up in 1982.

They still have photographs of the first rocking horses on the lawn.

Tony said it was impossible to be too serious when rocking on a rocking horse, describing it as "a great way to chill out".

Marc said: "It's feeding the inner child so it keeps us young.

"In fact, we call [the] rocking horses, our 'youthing' machines.

"Lots of our clients are grown-up girls and boys who maybe didn't get one when they were little."

Looking ahead to the company's 50th anniversary, he said: "We should be retiring, really, but we love what we do and we're very good at what we do."

Several rocking horses are displayed against a red wall covered with framed photographs, certificates and commemorative displays. A dark brown rocking horse and a black rocking horse stand on wooden rocking frames in the foreground. Large framed photographs showing rocking horses and visitors are arranged across the wall. The horse on the right is named Barber Shop, the racehorse owned by the late Queen Elizabeth II. — Some rocking horses are modelled on horses connected to the late Queen Elizabeth II

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, X, and on Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Kent on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.