Grandad, 73, becomes TikTok star after what he did at daughter's wedding - now he's getting offers from all over the world
A grandfather who became a TikTok sensation after his daughter shared heartwarming videos of him creating stained glass artwork is now on a mission to preserve the endangered craft. Roland Berry, 73, from Cheltenham, may be a heavy goods driver by profession, but his true love lies in crafting intricate stained glass pieces.
Roland first delved into this art form at the age of 25 when he struck up a friendship with a glass restorer for Gloucester Cathedral. Now a father of six and grandfather of five, Roland has honed his skills over the years and become a master of his craft.
In 2022, he designed a piece for his daughter's wedding that caught the eye of an online blog.
Seeing the potential interest, Roland’s 29 year old daughter, Cicely, decided to showcase her father's passion on TikTok. The videos quickly went viral, and Roland's work has since been viewed by millions worldwide.
Now, Roland receives global commissions, and his teaching courses are selling out rapidly. He hopes to inspire more people to appreciate the beauty of stained glass and prevent the craft from fading into obscurity.
"Stained glass is a dying art, it’s literally on the endangered list with Heritage Crafts," Roland shared with PA Real Life. "It’s a bit of a crusade on my part, trying to get people into it and my life’s aim would be to stop it from being an endangered craft."
Roland's journey into the world of stained glass began when he was 25, after befriending the then glass restorer for Gloucester Cathedral. "He was in charge of restoring all the stained glass...he ended up teaching me how to do it," Roland recalled.
"I’ve always done it for pleasure, it’s never been a big thing in my life but it’s been a constant thing."
Despite noticing a