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First, he was production control manager for Sunderland British flying boat patrol bombers in the Second World War, then a plant manager and vice-president of manufacturing for Pilkington Glass of Canada Ltd., now a 26-year wood sculptor.

Liberal MPP Laurel Broten (Etobicoke-Lakeshore) last week presented the tall Scot with a certificate during the class's last day before the summer break.

"Visiting The Mimico Adult Centre... let me see first hand how investing in adult education helps to ensure seniors, like 96-year-old woodcarver George Boyd, can continue to lead healthy, active and fulfilled lives," Broten said.

That view has been harder to impart to the Toronto District School Board, which cancelled all its continuing education classes across Toronto in 2002. Classes have since been reinstated. But, so real is the threat of funding cuts if enrolments aren't maintained, a group of seniors formed the Citizens of Lifelong Learning committee to meet monthly with school board officials.

Boyd is one among many who feels passionately that seniors deserve the sponsorship in return for their community contributions.

"We think that (funding) spirit helps seniors do what they like to do, so we'll never be forgotten," Boyd said. "Seniors volunteer a great deal, whether it's Meals on Wheels or working in hospitals or taking people to and from medical appointments. The cost to the community if we didn't do these jobs would be horrendous."

Boyd became a student of master carver Ruth Badzo in 1979 when the then-Etobicoke Board of Education's continuing education classes brochure arrived in his mailbox. First, Badzo's Woodcarving and Sculpture in Wood classes were held in the basement of Lambton-Kingsway Junior Middle School, moving seven years ago to the Mimico Adult Centre, formerly John English Junior Middle School on Royal York Road.

"These classes are very, very important to seniors," Badzo said. "It keeps them healthy, aware and active in the community, and it's something for them to look forward to. George brings a smile every day he comes to class."

Boyd's response is quick, and seemingly, effortless: "And I don't charge for it, either."

A spirited man, the Scottish lilt still clear in his voice, Boyd is fast with the one-liners and seems to revel in repartee.

Badzo is equally effusive in her praise of Boyd's sculptures, calling two of them "exquisite," and describing her two-decade-plus student as "exceptionally talented in detail." She raves about the patina of his wood, the sculptures' sense of movement, as well as its French polish finish.

One is a raging bull elephant Boyd sculpted in black walnut, the other a mahogany mother and baby dolphin leaping out of a basswood ocean wave.

"We say it takes 100 hours to do a carving and that's fast," Boyd said. "I figure at a rate of $40 per hour, if someone wanted to buy one, that would be $4,000. It depends on the difficulty, how well you're doing it, how often you get Ruth's pencil marks."

The running class joke: students threaten to break or hide Badzo's pencil when she suggests changes. Badzo herself is a master carver, who has judged many woodcarving competitions in Canada and the northeastern U.S.

"My standard for students is to coax them to do whatever they have to do to make it that little bit more. I want them to complete a treasure."

Yet, Boyd has never sold a piece. Most are gifts to his son or two daughters.

"When I was giving the loon to my son, I knew he wouldn't appreciate it unless it was painted black-and-white. He thinks it's wonderful," Boyd said, a disapproving look crossing his face. "It's displayed in a special place at the cottage."

Boyd isn't unfamiliar with a chisel and a plane. His father, a master carpenter, would scold his young son - "I'd get my ears cuffed for messing with his tools" - but later, taught him his trade.

He applied that same earnest spirit when he worked at an aircraft plant during the Second World War, overseeing production of one of the war's most powerful and widely used flying boats, renowned for terrorizing the German U-boat fleet.

"France had fallen. We thought Britain would be next. We (he and wife, Muriel) reckoned if we were going to get killed, we might as well die together. She was 22 and I was 30 when we got married. I got Friday off, then I was back at work on Monday, there was such a demand for the aircraft."

In November 1947, Boyd crossed a treacherous Atlantic Ocean on the Empire McCallum to seek a new life for his young bride and children in Canada. "I reckoned we'd never get there. We were tossing like a cork."

With credit restriction, he arrived in Canada with two weeks' worth of money, and enough cash for a return fare home. On the Thursday of the second week, Boyd landed a job at Pilkington Glass of Canada. He worked at the Scarborough plant until his retirement.

Muriel died five years ago, and was one of the best critics of his wood sculptures, he said.

Last Friday, the two Tuesday classes hosted their annual year-end party. Classes begin again in October. Call 416-338-4111 or 416-394-7630 for more information, or to register.

"I think the most amazing thing is that any Tom, Dick and Harry can come here and learn to be a woodcarver," Boyd said. "We have a good time. We don't just work our hands off."