‘It’s the story of my life’: how a retired teacher transformed his memories into a miniature world

Ken Bonham says his creations are inspired largely by his years teaching integrated studies to schoolchildren. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

A miniature world can be found hidden inside a one-bedroom flat in Birmingham. For decades, Ken Bonham, a retired teacher, has made memory boxes of places he has visited with his dressmaker wife of 54 years, Maggie, each made up of items they have collected on their travels or Bonham has made.

Models of barns, castles and churches are also crammed into the property – made from cork, balsa wood, styrofoam – or 3D card elevations from Bonham’s photos. Each Christmas, Bonham delights his neighbours by crafting nativity scenes from items he has collected and crafted.