By Julie Morgan

Last updated at 11:34, Thursday, 25 October 2012

A 20ft totem pole marking the life of a St Bees man has been installed in his garden as an 80th birthday present.

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Malcolm Reid received the gift from his wife Maureen who specially commissioned and shipped the pole from Minnesota, USA.

The totem, which features carvings representing Malcolm’s character and interests, was made by artist Carl Muggli who designed the three totem poles in Princess Diana’s memorial garden.

It now proudly stands at Maureen and Malcolm’s home after it was erected on a concrete platform secured with specially-designed bolts.

“Malcolm is a life-long fan of totem poles,” Maureen explained. “His father lived in Canada as a young man and would talk about his life there, Minnesota being on the Canadian border.

“I don’t think Malcolm would ever have dreamt he would have his own pole. So, as a treat for his 80th birthday, I decided to buy him one!’’

Maureen searched the internet before finding Muggli. She emailed details of Malcolm’s personality to help the design and the resulting pole was then shipped in three parts to St Bees.

In a strange twist, Muggli had been charged with first degree murder and second degree murder after his wife was struck by a totem pole the couple were working on. Muggli, who has since been recalled to jail, was on bail when he worked on Malcolm’s totem pole.

“I did wonder why the emails stopped,’’ Maureen said.

The couple held a party last weekend, just two days after the pole arrived, to mark the installation.

Malcolm, a former joiner and undertaker, owning J W Reid and Son, and a founder member of the St Bees RNLI, is understandably delighted with his gift.

“When it arrived he was ripping at the crate,’’ Maureen laughed. “He just stands there looking at it. It’s been worth every penny.’’

First published at 11:04, Thursday, 25 October 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk