Scaffolding the way it used to go ...

MINIMAL: The geometric - and very thin - scaffolding for the paint job at St Mark's Church in Carterton in the early sixties.

It would make a safety inspector's eyes water today, but health and safety in the 1960s had its own flavour.

That much is apparent from photos brought into the Times-Age by Ian Renall, showing workers in a delicate balancing act while painting the spire at St Mark's Church in Carterton in the early 1960s.

The workers, from well-known firm Dommet and Haines, have erected a single-plank scaffold through the spire, and then balanced a ladder on that to reach the very top of the spire. Mr Renall, who was the chairman of the St Mark's Church building committee back then, chuckles when he sees the photos in today's context.

"You just did it," he said.

"I think it was Les Dommett and Merv Haines, and Tony Roberts.

"We were painting the whole church, and the last job was to paint the steeple."

The work was done without mishap, with the church vestry, the governing body, saying they were very pleased with the "high quality", said Mr Renall.

The church has since been repainted - hopefully with a better scaffolding technique.