At 80 years young, Ray Wainman of Tarentaal retirement village is proving that creativity and craftsmanship only get better with age.
Ray moved into Tarentaal in March 2023, encouraged by his sister, Sharon Bolel, who felt he would thrive surrounded by people rather than living alone.
Shortly after settling in, Ray joined The Men’s Shed, a Rand Aid facility for DIY enthusiasts, where he spent mornings three days a week honing his skills. “Full credit must go to the team there,” he says. “I gained much knowledge from their expertise.” Yet after six months, he left to pursue a personal dream: Making high-quality chess sets.
Ray’s journey with woodworking has deep roots. After 35 years in the screen printing industry, where he became a director and part-owner, he faced the upheaval of company politics and chose to sell up. With his supportive family by his side – his son Mark, daughter and sister – Ray had the freedom to explore new passions.
His leap into craftsmanship was inspired by a simple family request. “My sister handed me a broken wooden Sabbath lamp and said, ‘Ray, please fix this for me. But better still, why don’t you make your own?’”
At the time, Ray was unemployed, and the challenge sparked the next chapter in his creative life. With no formal carpentry training but the support of his family, he taught himself the skills needed to construct a beautiful, fully functional lamp. It became a successful home-grown product that brought light and joy to households across South Africa.
Chess has been part of Ray’s life since he was 14. Now, decades later, the game has rekindled his enthusiasm. “I hope Tarentaal gets a chess club up and running soon,” he says.
Ray’s chess sets are handcrafted with painstaking attention to detail. Wooden frames, legs and pieces are complemented by wooden-beaded surrounds – his signature touch. The squares are made from marble, ceramic, sandstone or glass, with glass offering the easiest maintenance. Each piece is painted by hand with up to 11 coats of water-soluble acrylic paint, finished with felt pads and clear or matte varnish. “Painting is actually therapeutic,” Ray notes, “and it helps relieve stress.”
The response to Ray’s work has been phenomenal, he says. Six days a week, he dedicates himself to building each set with care and joy, amazed that even at 80, he can create something to be enjoyed by people of all ages. “I was very chuffed when I finished my first set,” he recalls. “It made me realise that something made with love can truly become a cherished item.”
For Ray, Tarentaal offers the perfect environment to keep both mind and hands active. His chess sets are a testament to creativity and the joy of doing what you love, no matter your age.
For further information or to view Ray’s work, contact him on 082 450 6119 or wainmann17@gmail.com.
