Gutta-Percha Willie

In a quiet valley tucked between gentle hills, young Willie Macmichael discovers that a clever mind is only half the story—skillful hands are just as vital. Living with his doctor father in the modest cottage of Priory Leas, he watches the daily rhythms of a sparsely populated countryside, where every resident depends on the few helpers the village can spare. Willie’s curiosity leads him to the forge where he learns the art of horse‑shoeing, to the water‑wheel that turns the rhythm of the community, and even to crafting a delicate bird for his friend Agnes.

Because of a peculiar gift and a nickname earned from his father’s playful teasing—‘Gutta‑Percha Willie’—he embraces the idea that being useful is a form of genius. The story follows his early experiments, his earnest attempts to aid neighbours, and the warm, sometimes mischievous, way he balances school, chores, and imagination. Through Willie’s eyes, listeners glimpse a world where hard work, kindness, and hands‑on learning shape a boy’s growing sense of purpose.